Gallaudet University
College of Liberal Arts, Sciences,
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Gallaudet University
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The ADA and Its ImpactWhat is the law?The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) is the civil rights guarantee for persons with disabilities in the United States. It provides protection from discrimination for individuals on the basis of disability. The ADA extends civil rights protections for people with disabilities to employment in the public and private sectors, transportation, public accommodations, services provided by state and local government, and telecommunication relay services. What is the ADA's definition of a "person with a disability?"A "person with a disability' is anyone with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, such as caring for one's self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, and working. In addition to those people who have visible disabilities-persons who are blind, deaf, or use a wheelchair-the definition includes people with a whole range of invisible disabilities. These include psychological problems, learning disabilities, or some chronic health impairment such as epilepsy, diabetes, arthritis, cancer, cardiac problems, HIV/AIDS, and more. (Documentation of the disability may be required.) A person is considered to be a person with disability if he/she has a disability, has a record of a disability, or is regarded as having a disability. How does the ADA affect institutions of higher education?The ADA upholds and extends the standards for compliance set forth in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to employment practices, communications, and all policies, procedures and practices that impact on the treatment of students with disabilities. Employment issues for all institutions are covered under Title I. For all activities, public institutions are covered under Title II: private institutions are covered under Title III. Because of the public attention given to the passage and implementation of the ADA, renewed attention is being focused on disability access to institutions of higher education. This focus includes the whole scope of the institution's activities, including facilities, programs, and employment.
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