Q - What is a disability?

A - UCCS adheres to the civil rights definition of disability. Under the ADA and Section 504, an individual with a disability is a person who

• Has a physical or mental condition that substantially limits one or more major life activities;
• Has a record of such an impairment; or
• Is regarded as having such an impairment.

Examples of disabilities include, but are not limited to the following:

• Arthritis
• Attention Deficit Disorder
• Blindness/low vision
• Cerebral Palsy
• Communication disorders
• Deafness/hearing impairments
• Emotional/psychological disabilities
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Seizure disorders
• Specific learning disabilities
• Spinal cord injuries
• Temporary disabilities
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Other health impairments

Q - How does Disability Services verify a disability?

A - Disability Services obtains current written documentation in order to verify the existence of a disability. Verification includes a diagnosis, description of the functional limitations that may affect academic performance, and a recommendation for reasonable accommodations. Documentation used in verifying a disability contains a printed and signed name of a physician, psychologist, counselor or other authority qualified to assess the disability and who is not related to the student. All documents are regarded with strict confidentiality.

Q - What are functional limitations?

A - A disability must limit functioning in the academic environment before a student can receive an accommodation. The effect of a disability on program access is referred to as a functional limitation. A physical or mental condition, in and of itself, does not necessarily require accommodation. There must be a logical link between the functional limitation stemming from the disability and the accommodation requested.

Q - What is a reasonable accommodation?

A -Reasonable accommodations are provided to students with disabilities in an attempt to level the playing field and remove access barriers within the student’s program. Accommodations are individualized to address specific functional limitations resulting from a disability. There must be a logical link between the functional limitation and the accommodation. Examples of reasonable accommodations include, but are not limited to:

• Assistive Technology
• Books on Tape or E-Text
• Braille Print
• Extended testing time
• FM System
• Note taking support
• Reduced distraction for testing
• Scribe for tests
• Sign Language Interpreters