Americans With Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act

Western Connecticut State University is committed to its moral, educational, and legal responsibility for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, the ADA Amendment Act of 2008, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended in 1998. To this end, discrimination due to a disability is prohibited in programs, services, and activities. The university is resolved to fulfill its responsibilities to students with a disability at Western Connecticut State University.

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended in 1998 states that No otherwise qualified individual with a disability in the United States shall, solely by reason of his or her disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.

The Americans with Disabilities Act states that no qualified individual with a disability shall by reason of such disability, be excluded from participation in, or be denied the benefits of the services, programs, or activities of a public entity, or to be subjected to discrimination by such entity.

In order to respect the independence and rights of persons with disabilities, the university initiates services only after voluntary disclosure of a disability, submission and verification of appropriate documentation of a disability, and a request for an accommodation. An individual’s choice not to disclose a disability is fully respected.

AccessAbility Services is the designated office at Western Connecticut State University for students to voluntarily disclose a disability, submit appropriate documentation for verification, and request accommodations.