ACCESS Rochester
Workplace Accommodations:
Introduction and Disabling Conditions
Introduction
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 states that no qualified individual with a disability shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity in any institution of higher education that receives federal funding.
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 defines an individual with a disability as:
- A person with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits that person in a major life activity,
- A person with a record of such a physical or mental impairment, or
- A person who is regarded as having such an impairment.
The intent of this legislation is to eliminate physical, attitudinal, and programmatic barriers that prohibit individuals with disabilities from successfully working at and participating in post-secondary educational programs. To achieve that objective, the University community is committed to:
- Looking beyond stereotypical images of people with disabilities and focusing on the individual capabilities of each applicant or candidate.
- Implementing reasonable workplace accommodations to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities, in accordance with federal law.
Disabling Conditions
To be considered a disabling condition, a physical or mental impairment must substantially limit one or more major life activities, including but not limited to, walking, seeing, speaking, hearing, breathing, learning, performing manual tasks, caring for one's self, working, and/or the operation of a major bodily function.
Introduction and Disabling Conditions
Requesting Reasonable Accommodations
Guidelines for Determining if a Requested Accommodation is Reasonable
