Student Support Services - The Foundation of Our Philosophy
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) govern the services Lynchburg College provides students with disabilities. The law states: "No otherwise qualified handicapped individual in the U.S. shall, solely by reason of handicap, 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." Some of the specific implications of this law include:
No student can be excluded from any course, major, or program solely on the basis of a disability.
- Certain accommodations are mandated, such as the provision of alternate testing and evaluation methods for measuring student mastery.
- Modifications, substitutions, or waivers of a course, major, or degree requirement may be necessary to meet the needs of some students.
- It is discriminatory to restrict the range of career options for students with disabilities as compared to non-disabled students with similar interests and abilities, unless such advice is based on strict licensing or certification requirements that may constitute an obstacle.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a civil rights guarantee for persons with disabilities. It was signed into law on July 16, 1990. It has been called “The Declaration of Independence for people with disabilities.” The impact of ADA has been felt across the nation by increased numbers of students who choose to attend college and from a renewed focus regarding access to an institution’s facilities and programs, as well as employment and promotional issues. It provides students with disabilities better opportunities for employment, transportation, and communication once they graduate.
