Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Guidelines

Non-Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) is a broad-based civil rights statute designed to protect qualified individuals with disabilities. The ADA prohibits discrimination against disabled individuals in private, state and local government employment; public accommodations; public transportation; state and local government services; and telecommunications. A State institution of higher education is covered as both an employer and a public accommodation.

Universities have been subject to many of the non-discrimination provisions contained in the ADA for a number of years, as the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability by programs receiving federal financial assistance. In addition, the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 contains requirements for handicap access to buildings constructed, altered or leased with federal funds.

Both the ADA and the Rehabilitation Act offer protection against discrimination to qualified persons with physical or mental impairments that substantially affect major life activities, those with records of such impairments and those who are regarded as so impaired.