Policy on Americans with Disabilities Act

The purpose of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), PL 101-336, is to extend to people with disabilities civil rights similar to those now available on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex and religion through the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in private sector employment, services rendered by state and local governments, places of public accommodation, transportation, and telecommunications relay services. The ADA says that no covered entity shall discriminate against a qualified individual with a disability because of the disability of such individual in regard to job application procedures; the hiring, advancement, or discharge of employees; employee compensation; job training; and other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment.

Major employment provisions of the ADA require equal opportunity in selection, testing, and hiring of qualified applicants with disabilities (applicants with disabilities may request that special accommodations be made in order to complete these processes); equal treatment in promotion and benefits; reasonable accommodation for applicants and workers with disabilities when such accommodations would not impose “undue hardship”; and prohibits discrimination against workers with disabilities. (This provision is similar to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title V of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973).

Employers may require that an individual not pose a direct threat to the health and safety of others; may not make pre-employment inquiries about an applicant’s disability or conduct pre-employment medical exams; and may conduct a test for illegal drug use and prohibit all workplace use of illegal drugs and alcohol.

If you need further information or if there are any problems or complaints on campus regarding compliance, please contact the Vice President of Student Services.