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Policies: Student Rights: ADA
It is the policy of Alpena Community College to comply with Section
504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (PL 93-1112), as amended (PL
93-516), and with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act
of 1990 (ADA). These acts provide for equal opportunity for students
with disabilities in educational activities, programs, and facilities.
ACC is committed to affording equal opportunity to persons with
disabilities by providing access to its programs, activities, and
services. Staff, faculty, and students are expected to adhere to
the philosophy of equal access to opportunity in higher education.
For additional details see the text and links below:
The Law and its Implications
Certain civil rights are guaranteed to students with disabilities
by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities
Act of 1990.
According to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, "...no
otherwise qualified handicapped individual in the United States
shall, solely by reason of handicap, be excluded from participating
in, be denied benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under
any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance."
Since Alpena Community College receives federal financial assistance,
the Rehabilitation Act applies.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) also applies to ACC by
prohibiting discrimination in the areas of employment, public services,
public accommodations, and telecommunications relay services.
Both the Rehabilitation Act and the ADA require that ACC make reasonable
accommodations to allow otherwise qualified individuals to participate
in a program or activity.
These laws do NOT mean that academic standards should or will
be lowered. Nothing in the Rehabilitation Act or the ADA abridges
the freedom of an institution to establish academic requirements
and standards. Before ACC is even required to make an accommodation,
the individual must make her or his disabilities known. She/he must
also establish that they are "otherwise
qualified"
by meeting the academic and technical standards required for admission
or participation in the program or activity.
Determining a "reasonable
accommodation"
in the classroom requires a case-by-case analysis. The key is
accommodating the disability, NOT altering course content. Topics
that generally need to be addressed with any student with a disability
include test-taking and notetaking procedures, reproduction of written
materials and visual aids, and lecture procedures. A student with
a visual impairment or learning disability may have problems taking
a written test. A reader may be appropriate for the visually impaired
person. Extended time may be appropriate for the learning disabled
person. A combination of these or other techniques may also be appropriate.
A reasonable accommodation may also be necessary with respect to
facilities. Classes enrolling students with mobility impairments
may have to be rescheduled in accessible facilities.
Acknowledgments
Materials written by Patricia Almon of Marquette University
and Keith Leafdale of Oklahoma Community College are used in this
publication with permission from the authors.
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