What is the Americans With Disabilities Act Amendments Act?
The Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA) is a civil rights law that was originally passed by Congress in 1990 (as the Americans with Disabilities Act-ADA) and protects individuals with disabilities from discrimination in the workplace, as well as school and other settings. The ADA was amended in 2008 and became effective January 1, 2009. The law does not provide funding for services or accommodations. https://www.ncld.org/get-involved/learn-the-law/adaaa/
What are disabilities that will be considered for accommodations?
- Major life activities include, but are not limited to, caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, seeing, hearing, eating, sleeping, walking, standing, lifting, bending, speaking, breathing, learning, reading, concentrating, thinking, communicating, and working.
- Major Bodily Functions include, but are not limited to, functions of the immune system, normal cell growth, digestive, bowel, bladder, neurological, brain, respiratory, circulatory, endocrine, and reproductive functions.
How does SCUHS provide equitable access to education?
Student Services Office reviews appropriate medical documentation, and consistent with laws and best practices determines reasonable accommodations, as well as auxiliary aids and services.
What does this mean for students?
This allows students to request a modification or reasonable accommodation to allow them to fully participate in the classroom and campus life. Once a modification or reasonable accommodation is approved, the student has the choice and responsibility to notify their instructors in a timely fashion.
It is important for students to know that accommodations and services may not cause a fundamental alteration to core requirements of the course, program of study, or University requirements. Students, faculty, and Student Services staff work together to define the limitations, if they exist, for accommodations.
How are religious accommodations implemented for students?
Reasonable accommodations are determined on an individual basis and depend on the circumstances. Students have a right to express religious beliefs without discrimination and have a safe place for worship and prayer. Examples of religious accommodations includes rescheduling an exam, allowing a group presentation to be given on a different date, and adjusting a due date if said item falls on a religious event or Holiday.
Accommodation requests that will fundamentally alter program requirements, classroom curriculum, learning objectives, or student expectations will not be approved. Accommodation requests that will create an undue and unfair burden to others, including students, will not be approved.