ADA: Rights in College

President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) into law in 1990. This act mandates that accommodations be made for persons with disabilities. In college, students have the right to request accommodations that make the classroom as productive as it is for people without disabilities, such as longer test taking time, accessible desks and translation services. However, disability offices do not have the power to fundamentally alter a course, such as change attendance requirements or the number of problem sets to be completed. Contact your diversity office, office of institutional equity or disability office to learn your rights on your specific campus.
  1. Mobility Accommodations

    • Accessible parking must be located reasonably close to academic buildings to accommodate those with mobility impairments.

      All buildings on campus must be accessible to a person in a wheelchair, with a walker, or to people who cannot safely and confidently climb stairs. If a building is not accessible, the university cannot mandate a student use that building for a required class. The city and university must also clearly mark and reserve accessible parking spaces close to entrances of buildings. The university must also provide desks that accommodate those in wheelchairs who cannot sit at a standard chair with the desk attached. If there is snow in the winter, the city and university must work together to clear snow from curb cuts and the fronts of buildings in a reasonable time.

    Visual Accommodations

    • Braille can be provided as an accommodation for students who are blind.

      Those with visual impairments tend to use screen readers to access information on computers. The university must be able to scan books and required readings for students with visual impairments to use with a screen reader. Visually impaired students are also allowed the use of word processors during class, more time on in-class reading assignments, and large print articles and tests. If the student can read braille, the university can also provide braille text.

    Deaf and Hard of Hearing Accommodations

    • Deaf and hard of hearing students can access note takers through the university. They can also use Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) to turn the words being spoken into text for the student. Sign language interpreters may also be provided.

    Learning Disability Accommodations

    • Students with learning disabilities have rights in college that make the classroom a place of learning, not anxiety. Students can receive more time on tests, separate locations for tests, note takers and audio recordings. As with any disability, you must be tested and registered with the disability office to receive official accommodations.

    Chronic Health Accommodations

    • Those with chronic health disorders can receive accommodations that include explanations to faculty or dietary accommodations. These are generally handled on a case by case basis depending on the person's needs.

    Adaptive Technology

    • Adaptive technology is any piece of equipment that makes a particular task more accessible or easier to accomplish. For example, zoom text programs that enlarge the print in screens and ergopods that make it possible for anyone to operate a computer. Every university is at its own discretion to provide adaptive technology. The wealth of equipment provided depends on their budget and resources.

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