Adaptive Educational Services
Legal Aspects
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 protects students with disabilities. Both of these civil rights laws provide protection for persons with disabilities in regards to employment, education, housing and public accommodations (restaurants, stores.)
ADA and Section 504 defines a person with a disability as "any person who:
- Has a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more of such person's major life activities
- Has a record- of such impairment or
- Is regarded as having such an impairment
Please Note: Adaptive Educational Services does not regard a person as having a disability unless we obtain appropriate documentation of their disability.
Section 504, of the Rehabilitation Act, specifically targets post-secondary institutions (e.g. colleges and universities) that receive federal financial assistance. Section 504 tells us that if an institution receives money from the government that they must not discriminate against individuals with disabilities. A qualified person with a disability must have equal access to an education, and must receive reasonable and appropriate accommodations or modifications.
Title II guarantees access to all programs, services and activities provided by a public agency, including public education funded colleges and universities. Other post-secondary educational programs must also not discriminate under Title II
Discrimination occurs as a result of attitudinal barriers and misconceptions regarding the POTENTIAL of those with disabilities. Our office attempts to change those misconceptions, attitudes, and behaviors through training and education, providing and coordinating services, and through on-going and meaningful communication with others.
For more information regarding the legal aspects of the Americans with Disabilities Act as well as the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, try the following links:
- Homepage for the US Department of Justice: http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/cguide.htm
- Homepage for the Americans with Disabilities Act: http://www.ada.gov
- A Website with Answers About the ADA and Resonable Accommodations: http://www.bu.edu/cpr/reasaccom/whatlaws-adaact.html#TII
- Homepage for the Indianapolis Mayor’s Office: http://www.indygov.org/eGov/Mayor/home.htm
- Homepage for the Office of Civil Rights: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/index.html
