People with disabilities
are protected from discrimination based on
their disabilities, in both the public and
private sectors. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation
Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities
Act guarantee that a person with a disability
cannot be denied access to facilities, services,
activities or opportunities solely because
they have a disability.
Section 504 Of The Rehabilitation Act Of 1973
Section 504 states that: “No otherwise
qualified individual with a disability in the
United States shall solely by reason of her
or his disability, be excluded from the participation
in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected
to discrimination under any program or activity
receiving federal financial assistance . .
. “ (29 U.S.C., Section 794)
Colleges and universities receiving federal
financial assistance must not discriminate
in the recruitment, admission, or treatment
of students. Students with documented disabilities
may request modifications, accommodations,
or auxiliary aids which will enable them to
participate in and benefit from all postsecondary
educational programs and activities. Postsecondary
institutions must make such changes to ensure
that the academic program is accessible to
the greatest extent possible by all qualified
students with disabilities.
The Americans With Disabilities Act Of 1990 (ADA)
The ADA is the civil rights guarantee that
upholds and extends the standards for compliance
in Section 504 to the private sector. With
the passage of ADA, not only entities receiving
federal money, but also private schools and
businesses must provide equal access to education,
goods and services to people with disabilities.
It's All About EQUAL Access
The facilities, programs and activities of
a postsecondary institution must be accessible.
Students with disabilities must be offered
the same opportunity as students without disabilities
to participate in and benefit from all aspects
of campus life. In addition, appropriate equal
access is respectful and should be accomplished
in the most inclusive way possible.
Section 504 and the ADA guarantee equal access – NO
MORE and NO LESS.
Achieving Equal
Access Through Reasonable Accommodations
An accommodation is a modification or adjustment
to a course, program, service, activity or
facility. Modifications and adjustments are
typically changes in how a task or activity
is accomplished or an alteration to a physical
structure. Accommodations do not change the
academic standards or course requirements.
At UND, Disability Services for Students is responsible
for determining reasonable accommodations.
This is done on a case-by-case basis and depends on the
nature and extent of the student's disability and
the essential requirements of each course or activity.
The Reasonable Accommodation
Process
- The student meets confidentially with a
Disability Specialist (DS) who determines
how the functional limitations of the disability
affect academic work and/or the student’s
ability to function in the campus environment.
This is accomplished through discussion with
the student and review of the disability
documentation.
- The DS identifies the various reasonable
accommodations that address the student’s
functional limitations. The student then
chooses the specific accommodations that
best apply in a given course or semester.
- The student is given a verification document
briefly describing the student’s functional
limitations and listing the recommended accommodations.
- The student meets with the professor to
request the specific accommodations needed
and works out the details of how that will
be accomplished.
- The DS is available to consult with the
professor and student and to assist
with problem solving.
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