Accessibility Laws
SLCC is committed in providing education to all students, especially for students who have disabilities. Many strides have been made to give students with disabilities an equal voice in in their education and in employment.
These laws, such as the American with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Rehabilitation Act of 1973, were created to pave the way for persons with disabilities to have equal opportunities in their daily lives.
SLCC faculty is encouraged to work with the DRC to help ensure that students with disabilities are provided with the same educational opportunities as their peers. There are many benefits of including students with disabilities that the laws provide, such as:
- creating an inclusive and diverse classroom environment.
- allowing students with disabilities to learn with and from their peers.
- providing students without disabilities an increased awareness of disability issues.
- Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA)
This law provides civil rights protection to individuals with disabilities. The ADA ensures equal opportunities are given in employment, public accommodations, transportation, state and local government services, and telecommunications.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
This law states that “no otherwise qualified individual with a disability in the United States . . . shall, solely by reason of her or his disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance . . . .”
Guidance from the Office for Civil Rights
Additionally, the Office for Civil Rights emphasizes that students with disabilities should receive “all the educational benefits…in an equally effective and equally integrated manner.”
To emphasize how important it is to provide an inclusive environment for students who have disabilities, please read the Dear Colleague Letter from OCR.
Sources:
United States Department of Labor – Section 504, Rehabilitation Act of 1973
Office for Civil Rights – Protecting Students with Disabilities
Fact Sheet from the Office for Civil Rights – Student Rights Under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act