Office for Equity, Diversity, and Global Outreach

Americans with Disabilities Act (Fact Sheet)

The American with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal civil rights law enacted on July 26, 1990. It protects qualified persons with disabilities from discrimination in employment, government services and programs, transportation, public accommodations, and telecommunications. The ADA supplements and complements other federal and state laws that protect persons with disabilities, including Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

NDSU is considered a "public entity" under Title II of the ADA. According to Title II, the University must not exclude a "qualified individual with a disability" from participation in or deny the benefits of the services, programs or activities of the University or subject that person to discrimination by the University. A "qualified individual" is a person who, with or without reasonable modifications to the University's policies or practices or the removal of architectural, communication or transportation barriers, meets the University's essential eligibility requirements to receive University services or participate in University programs.

The ADA estimates that there are 43 million Americans who have a disability. A "disability" is defined as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a record of having such an impairment or being regarded as having one. "Disability" covers a wide range of conditions and includes mobility, vision, hearing, or speech impairments, learning disabilities, chronic health conditions, emotional illnesses, AIDS, HIV positive, and a history of drug addiction or alcoholism.

Accessibility for people with disabilities is often viewed solely as architectural or physical access. The ADA, however, goes beyond this concept to require that all of our services, programs and activities be accessible. The purpose of this survey was to assess the accessibility of the University in these areas. The University completed a similar self-evaluation in 1979 as part of its efforts to comply with Section 504. Much has changed, however, during the past fifteen years. This survey was designed to increase the awareness of University personnel about the ADA as well as to collect current information about our programmatic accessibility.

The ADA (Title I) also protects qualified persons from discrimination in employment. The Human Resources Office and the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Global Outreach are coordinating the self-evaluation regarding employment policies and practices. If you have questions about the ADA as it relates to employment, please call Human Resources or the Office of Equity, Diversity and Global Outreach.

Reprinted/modified with the permission of the University of Michigan

   

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