The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA)
The American's with Disabilities Act of 1990 is the civil rights guarantee for persons with disabilities in the United States. It provides protection from discrimination and extends civil rights protection to people with disabilities employed and/or seeking employment in the public and private sectors, accessing transportation and public accommodations, and in services provided by state and local governments as well as utilizing telecommunication relay services.
The ADA upholds and extends the standards for compliance set forth
in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to employment
practices, communications, and all policies, procedures, and
practices that impact the treatment of students with
disabilities. Employment issues for all institutions are covered
under Title I. All activities in public institutions are covered
under Title II; and private institutions are covered under Title III.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 states that: "No otherwise qualified person with a disability in the United States… shall, solely by reason of…disability, be denied the benefits of, be excluded from participation in, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance."
Colleges and universities that receive federal financial assistance must not discriminate against students with disabilities in the recruitment, admission, or education of students. Students with documented disabilities may request modifications, accommodations, or auxiliary aids that might enable them to participate in and benefit from all postsecondary educational programs and activities. Postsecondary institutions must make such accommodations to ensure that academic programs are accessible to the greatest extent possible by all students with disabilities.
Under the provisions of Section 504, universities may not:
- Limit the number of qualified students with disabilities admitted
- Make preadmission inquiries as to whether or not an applicant is disabled, except as necessary to provide affirmative action for persons with disabilities
- Use admissions tests or criteria that inadequately measure the academic qualifications or likelihood of success of disabled students
- Exclude a qualified student with a disability from any course of study
- Limit eligibility of a student with a disability for financial assistance or otherwise discriminate in administering scholarships, fellowships, internships, or assistantships
- Counsel a student with a disability toward a more restrictive career
- Use methods of evaluating students which fail to represent a disabled student's actual achievement
- Establish and apply rules or policies that have the effect of limiting participation of students with disabilities.
*Adapted from the American Council on Education brochure