FAU ADA Policy

Frequently Asked Questions:

__________¿ Who is an Individual with a Disability?
__________¿ Who Constitutes a Qualified Individual?
__________¿ What are Essential Program Requirements?
__________¿ What is a Program, Service, or Activity?
__________¿ What are Reasonable Accommodations?
__________¿ What about Physical Campus Access?
__________¿ What about Accessibility in Campus Life?

ADA Policy

Florida Atlantic University is dedicated to the philosophy of equal opportunity to all goods, services, benefits, facilities, and privileges for all in the most integrated setting. The University is committed to providing an environment free from discrimination, protecting the rights and dignity of potential and current employees, students, and visitors regardless of disability status. FAU works to ensure that individuals with disabilities are treated fairly and equal to individuals without disabilities in all University activities including, but not limited to, employment, academia, services, benefits, social events, activities, and research on any of FAU’s campuses.

Florida Atlantic University complies with all federal, state, and local laws and guidelines that provide individuals with disabilities protection, enlisting the law that affords the greatest protection. This legislation includes, but is not limited to: the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended through 1998, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987, the Florida Civil Rights Act of 1992, and the Florida Educational Equity Act which require that otherwise qualified individuals may not, on the basis of disability, be denied access to, participation in, or the benefits of any program or activity operated by the University.

It is further the policy of the University to enable individuals with disabilities to participate as independently as possible, facilitating enhancement of campus life and enrichment of the University community as a whole. People with disabilities must be full members of the educational community. FAU recognizes that traditional methods, programs, and services may not accommodate the needs of some individuals with disabilities. It is important to keep in mind that each person's situation is unique and must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Discrimination against a qualified individual with a disability, in any form, undermines the mission and values of the University, negatively affects the careers, educations, and experiences of the entire FAU community, and will not be tolerated. Each member of the University community has the responsibility to ensure that this policy is enacted in their daily practices.

Who is an Individual with a Disability?

A person is considered an individual with a disability if the person:

Has a physical or mental impairment, which substantially limits one of more major life activities

Has a record of such an impairment

Or is regarded as having such an impairment

Temporary impairments and non-chronic conditions such as broken appendages and pregnancy are not considered disabilities unless accompanied by severe complications.

Who Constitutes a Qualified Individual with a Disability

A qualified individual with a disability is someone who, with or without accommodations, meets the essential program requirements for participating in programs, services, and activities.

An individual simply refers to any person applying for, currently participating in, or who previously participated in any of Florida Atlantic University's programs, services, or activities.

What are Essential Program Requirements?

Essential program requirements are the legitimate academic or professional standards or the skills needed to safely participate in activities. These requirements are considered indispensable. They are so central to the activity that if they were changed, it would create disparate results. For example, data entry would be an essential job function of a data entry professional position. If data entry were removed from the job requirements, the original intent of the position would cease to exist.

Essential program requirements do not need to be changed because that change would fundamentally alter the program, activity, or service, thus causing an undue burden. Another example is debating would presumably be an essential program requirement in a debate course. Therefore, if a student was unable to debate with or without a reasonable accommodation, the student would no longer be a qualified individual because they could not complete the essential course requirements. To learn more about these view specific accommodation pages for employees, students, and the public.

What is a Program, Service, or Activity?

These terms refer to all of the operations of the University. This includes, but certainly is not limited to, accessibility to classrooms, course content, employment, concerts, housing, and libraries. Less commonly thought of programs include graduation, parking, bathrooms, cafeterias, and extracurricular activities.

What are Reasonable Accommodations?

Florida Atlantic University is committed to providing requested, reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities affording equal opportunity to facilities and services offered. A reasonable accommodation is a modification to an environment, policy, procedure, or an auxiliary aide/service that enables qualified individuals with disabilities to participate in programs, activities, and benefits offered by the University. There are no extra fees associated with accommodations. Please see Accommodations for Employees with Disabilities, Accommodations for Students with Disabilities, or Accommodations for the Public web pages for specific instructions on the process of requesting accommodations at FAU.

What about Physical Campus Access?

FAU's Physical Campus Access Philosophy is not simply to comply with the Florida Accessible Code for Building Construction (FBC Chpt 11), ADA Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG), Federal Fair Housing Act, and other applicable federal, state, and local legislation protecting accessibility, but also to meet the needs of people with disabilities whenever possible. FAU wants its campuses to be friendly, inviting, and usable by people of all abilities.

FAU has adopted campus policies to work towards that goal. One of the more recent policies restricts the use of sidewalk pavers, which although still code complaint, can inhibit accessibility. Pavers may only be used as accent or trim on future projects. There must be a clear path of travel at least 3 feet wide and the pavers may not cross the path of travel. FAU also provides at least one electric powered, automatic door opener to the main entrance of new buildings.

Florida Atlantic University is constantly evaluating its campuses physical environments to ensure accessibility for all individuals. While not all of FAU’s buildings need to be accessible by law, FAU works toward total accessibility. FAU also attempts to proactively assign classrooms to match students’ mobility needs. However, if you have been assigned to a space that does not meet your needs, please request the reasonable accommodation of a new room reassignment from the appropriate personnel. The FAU community is strongly encouraged to host all events open to the public in the most accessible space possible.

What about Accessibility in Campus Life?

At Florida Atlantic University, we strive to provide successful options to students with disabilities making every reasonable effort to accommodate each individual’s needs. We know that all disabilities and chronic illnesses are unique, and the needs of each student will be unique as well. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your specific needs for accommodations and visits.

Students with disabilities are encouraged to participate fully in all University events, programs and other campus activities. Our goal is to assist you, provide comprehensive services, and ease your transition into campus life at FAU.

FAU is continually exploring ways to improve campus life for students with disabilities. Do not hesitate to contact the Office of Equal Opportunity Programs with your suggestions or sign up for a Focus group so your voice will be heard.