LibGuides: Resources for Visually Disabled and Print Disabled Students: Disability Rights Law and Policies

The Americans with Disabilities Act

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that all public and private places provide equal access to programs, services, and activities to individuals with disabilities. The following resources summarize aspects of the ADA that apply to IU Indianapolis. It is important that all students and staff at IU Indy are aware of their rights for reasonable adjustments and accommodations protected under U.S. law.

An Overview of the Americans with Disabilities Act
This factsheet summarizes the five sections of the ADA: employment, public services, public accommodations, telecommunications, and miscellaneous provisions.
ADA Standards for Accessible Design
All new facilities must comply with these standards for accessible design.
Reasonable Accommodations
Under Title I of the ADA, all workplaces with over 15 employees must provide "reasonable accommodation" in the form of modifications to jobs, the work environment, or the hiring process to give people with disabilities equal access to applying for and successfully performing jobs. This might include installing ramps, adjusting workplace policies to allow for service animals, or providing flexible work schedules.
The Rehabilitation Act
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 applies to all entities receiving federal funding. Specifically, Section 504 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 that receives federal funding.
IT Accessibility Laws and Policies
Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act applies to federal websites and the websites of organizations receiving federal funding. This site breaks down some of the standards and related laws applying to accessible website and information technology design.

IUPUI Policies

IU's Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct, section C, the Right to Accommodation for Individuals with Disabilities, states:

"Indiana University is committed to creating a learning environment and academic community that promotes educational opportunities for all individuals, including those with disabilities. Course directors are asked to make reasonable accommodations, upon request by the student or the university, for such disabilities. It is the responsibility of students with documented physical or learning disabilities seeking accommodation to notify their course directors and the relevant campus office that deals with such cases in a timely manner concerning the need for such accommodation. Indiana University will make reasonable accommodations for access to programs, services, and facilities as outlined by applicable state and federal laws."

Indiana University's Non-Discrimination, Equal Opportunity, and Affirmative Action policy also states that:

"Indiana University shall take affirmative action, positive and extraordinary, to overcome the discriminatory effects of traditional policies and procedures with regard to the disabled, minorities, women, and veterans."
"Indiana University prohibits discrimination on the basis of age, color, disability, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status."

Indiana University's ADA Policy outlines the procedure for accommodation requests by faculty and students:

A request for accommodation is made;
The appropriate documentation is provided to support the disability and the requested accommodation; and
A reasonable accommodation is made, if appropriate.

In addition to this, the ADA policy also states that:

"Employees or students who believe the university has not met its obligations under the ADA should consult with the university’s ADA Coordinator, who serves all IU campuses and has overall responsibility for coordinating the efforts of the university to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The university ADA Coordinator will refer complaints to the appropriate campus or university office for investigation."
"All university websites published after November 1, 2016, are required to meet the accessibility standards set forth by Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 AA. University websites published prior to that date are also expected to meet accessibility standards and have been prioritized for review and update for compliance."

The University Library's Individuals with Disabilities policy states that:

"The Library provides assistance to persons with permanent or temporary disabilities on an individual basis. Services include but are not limited to: assistance with bibliographic sources; orientation to the Library building; space for studying and taking examinations; access to IUCAT, online resources and the Internet; and the retrieval of materials from our collection. In order to provide the most appropriate service to meet specific needs, the Library needs to be informed of the nature of the disability and the resulting special need."

Reporting Violations to IU Indy

Students and faculty at IU Indy have the right to report ant violation of the American with Disabilities Act, IU policies, and more with the University. If you need assistance or wish to file a complaint, you may contact the Office of Institutional Equity at (812) 855 7559 or at oie@iu.edu. In addition to this, if you need help, would like to report an accessibility barrier, or wish to file an appeal or complaint, you can also do so at (317) 274 2306.