About the ADA and Rehabilitation Act
What is the Rehabilitation Act?
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is federal legislation that prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in programs receiving federal financial assistance. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act states that “no qualified individual with a disability in the United States shall be excluded from, denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under” any program or activity that receives federal financial assistance.
What is the Americans with Disabilities Act?
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is federal legislation that provides civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities. It prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities in all employment practices including job application procedures, hiring, firing, advancement, compensation, training, and other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment. It applies to recruitment, advertising, tenure, layoff, leave, fringe benefits, and all other employment-related activities.
As an employer, the ADA requires the University to provide reasonable accommodation in employment and education for individuals (employees, applicants, and students) with known disabilities unless such accommodation imposes an undue hardship or substantially alters an academic program.