NC
State Accommodation Procedures Manual for Individuals with
Disabilities
Introduction NC State is committed to eliminating discrimination on the basis
of disability and is committed to providing accessibility to its
programs, services, and activities for qualified individuals with
disabilities.
Efforts to ensure equal opportunity through providing reasonable
accommodations for qualified students and employees with disabilities
are based on requirements of the Section
504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The procedure identified in this manual has been established to
ensure equal opportunity for NC State students and employees in
regard to providing reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals
with disabilities without undue hardship to the University. The
procedure does not apply to applicants for employment or students
seeking admission.
Contents The following information will assist individuals and departments
in providing accommodations for persons with disabilities:
Contact Information
Cheryl
Branker
Associate Vice Provost & Director of Disability Compliance
Programs
1900 Student Health Center
Box 7509
NC State University
Raleigh, NC 27695-7509
919-513-3768 (phone)
919-513-2840 (fax)
919-515-8830 (TTY)
Who
is Covered by the Law? Qualified individuals with a disability are protected from discrimination
and are eligible to request accommodations.
A "qualified individual with a disability" is someone
with a disability who meets the skill, experience, education, or
other job- or academic-related requirements of a position held
or desired, and who, with or without reasonable accommodation,
can perform the essential functions of the job or course of study
or meet the eligibility requirements of the program or benefit.
A person with a "disability" is an individual who:
- has
a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits
one or more major life activities, e.g., caring for oneself,
walking,
seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, working, performing manual
tasks, or learning.
- has
a record or history of a substantially limiting physical or
mental impairment; or
- is
regarded as having a substantially limiting physical or mental
impairment.
Some examples of impairment conditions are: AIDS or HIV infection;
alcoholism; blindness or visual impairment; cancer; deafness or
hearing impairment; diabetes; drug addiction; heart disease; and
mental or emotional illness.
Current users of illegal drugs are excluded from the definition.
An individual
who poses a significant health or safety risk to self or others
will not be "qualified" if reasonable
modification to the University's policies, practices, or procedures
will not eliminate that risk.
Steps
to Providing an Accommodation Individuals
with disabilities who are otherwise qualified are entitled to "reasonable accommodation." An
accommodation is a modification in the work or campus environment
or in the way
things are usually done that results in equal opportunity for an
individual with a disability.
Because it is the obligation of the individual with a disability
to request a reasonable accommodation, the University will make
an accommodation only to the known limitations of an otherwise
qualified individual with a disability. Those who request accommodation
may be asked to provide documentation of the disability by a qualified
professional.
The process of determining reasonable accommodation involves both
the University and the qualified individual with a disability and
typically follows these steps:
1. Analysis of the particular job or course of study to determine
its purpose and essential functions.
2. Consultation with the individual to find out how the disability
limits job or academic functions and how such limitations can be
overcome with an accommodation;
3. Identification and assessment of possible accommodations; and
4.
Considering the individual's preferred accommodation, selection
of the most appropriate accommodation for both the individual
and the University.
Determined on a case-by-case basis, possible accommodations may
include, but are not limited to:
- making
existing facilities readily accessible to and usable by people
with disabilities;
- offering
a flexible or modified work schedule (with no loss in total
hours worked);
- acquiring
or modifying certain equipment or devices;
- or
providing auxiliary aids and services to ensure effective communication.
These
may include qualified readers, note
takers, interpreters, and taped texts.
The University is not obligated to provide personal devices or
services.
An individual
who poses a significant health or safety risk to self or others
will not be "qualified" if reasonable
modification to the University's policies, practices, or procedures
will not eliminate that risk.
The University will work with a qualified individual with a disability
to determine if an accommodation is needed, and whether an accommodation
can be made that will allow that individual to meet stated performance
standards or academic requirements. However, the University is
not required to lower existing, essential academic or production
standards applicable to the quality or quantity of work for a given
job or program of instruction.
Individuals who believe they are not being offered a reasonable
accommodation are encouraged to discuss their concerns with their
immediate supervisor or department head, if an employee, or with
a faculty member, if a student. All parties to the concern will
attempt resolution through informal discussions.
To obtain further information about accessing grievance procedures
for actions which constitute discrimination, contact the Office
for Equal Opportunity.
Reasonable
Accommodation and the Undue Hardship Limitation The University
is not required to provide a particular accommodation if it will
impose an "undue hardship" on the operation
of the University. (Even in such instances, however, the University
will consider alternative accommodations, if such exist, that do
not impose an undue hardship.)
An undue hardship is an action that is unduly costly, extensive,
substantial, disruptive, or that will fundamentally alter the nature
of the program, service or activity. If the cost of an accommodation
will impose an undue hardship on the University, the individual
with the disability will be given the option of providing the accommodation
or paying that portion of the cost which will constitute an undue
hardship.
Ultimately, the University has the discretion to choose between
equally effective accommodations and may choose one that is less
expensive or easier to provide.
Student
Requests
A
student requiring an accommodation should contact the Disability
Services Office at 919-515-7653. Students should be registered
with the Disability Services Office to expedite processing of
accommodations requests.
Requests should be submitted in writing, but requests made by
telephone, email, and in person will be accepted. A written copy
will be kept of all accommodation requests.
Requests should be submitted with enough lead time to allow the
request to be processed and the arrangements to be made in a timely
manner that will meet the requester's deadline. If the lead time
requested is not possible, special arrangements will be made to
meet accommodation as best as possible.
If a request is denied, the requester will receive an explanation
for the denial.
Employee
Requests
An employee requiring an accommodation should contact his/her
immediate supervisor and submit the employee Accommodation Request
Forms (EEO-009 and EEO-010). Note: Both forms must be submitted.
The supervisor or the ADA Coordinator may require additional information
from the employee to process the request. For additional information
or questions during the process, supervisors and employees may
also contact Joanne Woodard .
Recommended
Timing for Submitting Accommodation Requests Requests should be submitted in a timely manner. Listed below
are recommended schedules for submitting requests. If the requester
is not able to meet the lead time recommended below, special arrangements
will be made to provide accommodation as best as possible through
discussion with the requester, the responsible department and the
Office for Equal Opportunity.
- For
projects involving programmatic accommodations, requests
should be submitted at least four weeks in advance of the beginning
of the academic term needed; i.e. fall semester, spring semester,
summer sessions.
- For
projects involving major design and construction, requests
should be submitted 6 months to one
year in advance depending upon the complexity
of
the project. Projects involving large modifications may exceed available
resources and may not meet a desired deadline.
If the desired deadline cannot be met,
special arrangements will be made to meet the needed accommodation as
best as possible.
Responding to Requests for Accommodation
Requests for accommodation are normally met by academic departments
or administrative units and should be submitted directly to those
departments. Please see:
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