ACHIEVING AND MAINTAINING AN ACCESSIBLE CAMPUS: A GUIDE TO HIGHER EDUCATION DISABILITY LAW AND ACCOMMODATIONS

SCHEDULE

MODULE ONE

An Introduction to the Applicable Law, the Relevant Enforcement Agencies, and a Preview of Issues to Come

  • Overview of relevant laws
    • Fair Housing Act
    • Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
    • Titles II and III of the Americans with Disabilities Act
  • Enforcement agencies
    • OCR
    • DOJ
    • HUD
  • The accommodation and interactive process
    • K-12 v. Higher education
    • Key terms: reasonable; undue burden; fundamental alteration

MODULE TWO

THE OFFICE OF DISABILITY SERVICES

  • Role of the disability services coordinator
    • Duties of the coordinator
    • Qualifications of the coordinator
  • Organization of the office
    • Common organization models and related pros and cons
    • Staffing and recordkeeping considerations
  • Grievance process
    • Elements to include
    • Policy for requesting accommodations
    • Policy regarding documentation requirements
    • Other relevant policies and procedures
  • Training

MODULE THREE

ACCOMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS IN THE CLASROOM AND IN HOUSING

  • Requirements under applicable law
    • Section 504 
    • The Americans with Disabilities Act
    • The Fair Housing Act
  • Commonly requested and granted accommodations
    • Academic accommodations
    • Housing accommodations
  • Reviewing accommodation requests
    • Steps in the student accommodation process 
    • Resolving disagreements about accommodations
  • Leading practices in providing student accommodations 
     

MODULE FOUR

FACULTY & STAFF ACCOMODATIONS

  • Requirements under applicable law
    • Section 504
    • Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act 
    • Relevant state laws
  • Accommodation analysis and interactive process
    • What is a “reasonable” accommodation?
    • Key concepts: otherwise qualified individual with a disability; undue hardship; essential functions
    • Task limitation v. functional limitation
  • Practical tips regarding providing faculty and staff accommodations

MODULE FIVE

PHYSICAL ACCESSIBILITY

  • Determining applicable standards
    • Existing facility v. new construction
    • Methods of compliance under each standard
  • Common campus issues
    • Accessible routes
    • Walking surfaces
    • Parking
  • Accessibility strategy 

MODULE SIX

DIGITAL ACCESSIBILITY

  • Defining the challenge of inaccessible digital content
    • Digital accessibility tools
  • Applicable laws and industry standards
  • Agency enforcement and litigation trends 
  • Digital accessibility strategy
    • Procurement process
    • Defining stakeholders and partners
    • Determining the scope of the task
    • Prioritization 
  • Common challenge areas 

MODULE SEVEN

SERVICE ANIMALS AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS

  • Service animals 
    • What is a service animal?
    • What questions can be asked?
    • Where can service animals go?
    • Owner responsibilities 
  • Emotional support animals
    • What is an emotional support animal?
    • Reasonable accommodation process
    • Where can emotional support animals go?
    • Owner responsibilities 
  • Balancing other students’ accommodations 

MODULE EIGHT

STUDENT MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH CONCERNS

  • Self-harming students and students that present a threat to others
    • Defining “direct threat”
    • What is the standard of care?
  • Strategies for responding to self-harming or threatening behavior
    • Disciplinary procedures
    • Withdrawals
    • Emergency removal
    • Readmission considerations 
       

LIVE FORUMS

FORUM ONE

Monday, May 6, 2024, 2:00-3:15 p.m. ET

This forum, which is supplemental to the course, will cover content addressed in modules 1-4.

Opportunity for Q&A with course instructors.

Unable to attend live? The recording will be available on the course platform for all registrants within a week of the live forum.


FORUM TWO

Thursday, May 23, 2024, 3:00-4:15 p.m. ET

This forum, which is supplemental to the course, will cover content addressed in modules 5-8.

Opportunity for Q&A with course instructors.

Unable to attend live? The recording will be available on the course platform for all registrants within a week of the live forum.