Policy detailing BSU's regulations regarding fair and equal treatment for individuals with documented disabilities

BSU advises applicants, participants and the public that it does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission or access to, or treatment of or employment in its programs, services and activities. Bridgewater State University is committed to the regulations and the spirit of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Acts of 1973 (P.L. 93-112), as amended (P.L. 93-516) and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

No qualified handicapped person shall, on the basis of handicap, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of or otherwise be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity that receives or benefits from federal financial assistance. [84.4 (a)]

Handicapped persons means any person who (i) has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, (ii) has a record of such an impairment, or (iii) is regarded as having such an impairment. [84.3 (j)(1)] Physical or mental impairment means (A) any physiological disorder or condition, cosmetic disfigurement or anatomical loss affecting one or more of the following systems: neurological; musculoskeletal; special sense organs; respiratory, including speech organs; cardiovascular; reproductive; digestive; genito-urinary; hemic and lymphatic; skin; and endocrine; or (B) any mental or psychological disorder, such as mental retardation; organic brain syndrome; emotional or mental illness and specific learning disabilities [84.3 (j)(2)(i)].

The term disability includes, but is not limited to, such diseases or conditions as speech, hearing, visual and orthopedic impairments; cerebral palsy; epilepsy; muscular dystrophy; multiple sclerosis; cancer; diabetes; heart disease; mental retardation; emotional illness; and specific learning disabilities such as perceptual dyslexia; minimal brain dysfunction and developmental aphasia.

Major life activities means functions such as caring for one's self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning and working [84.3 (j)(2)(ii)].

The university shall make such modifications to its academic requirements as are necessary to ensure that such requirements do not discriminate or have the effect of discriminating, on the basis of handicap, against a qualified handicapped applicant or student. Academic requirements that the recipient (university) can demonstrate are essential to the program of instruction being pursued by such student or to any directly related licensing requirement will not be regarded as discriminatory within the meaning of this section. Modifications may include changes in the length of time permitted for the completion of degree requirements, substitution of specific courses required for the completion of degree requirements, and adaptation of the manner in which specific courses are conducted [84.44 (a)].

Bridgewater State University:

• may not impose upon handicapped students other rules, such as the prohibition of tape recorders in classrooms or of service animals in campus buildings that have the effect of limiting the participation of handicapped students in
  
• the recipient's (university's) education program or activity [84.44 (b)],
• shall provide such methods for evaluating the achievement of students who have a handicap that impairs sensory, manual or speaking skills as will best ensure that the results of the evaluation represents the student's achievement in the course, rather than reflecting the student's impaired sensory, manual or speaking skills (except where such skills are the factors that the test purports to measure) [84.44 (c )], and
• shall take such steps as are necessary to ensure that no handicapped student is denied the benefits of, excluded from participation in, or otherwise subjected to discrimination under the education program or activity operated by the recipient (university) because of the absence of educational auxiliary aids for students with impaired sensory, manual or speaking skills [84.44 (d) (1)].

Auxiliary aids may include taped texts, interpreters or other effective methods of making material delivered orally available to students with hearing impairments, readers in libraries for students with visual impairments, classroom equipment adapted for use by students with manual impairments and other similar devices and actions. Recipients (the university) need not provide attendants, individually prescribed devices, readers for personal use or study, or other devices or services of a personal nature [84.44 (a) (2)].

Bridgewater State University has designated the following person to coordinate efforts to comply with these requirements. Inquiries, requests and complaints should be directed to:

ADA Compliance Officer
Office of Affirmative Action and Minority Affairs
Bridgewater State University
Bridgewater, MA 02325
(508) 531-1241
TTY 508.531.1384

Complains may also be filed directly with the following agencies:

U.S. Office of Education/Office of Civil Rights
Room 222, McCormack Post Office and Court House Building
Boston, MA 02109
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
1 Congress St., 10th Floor
Boston, MA 02114

Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination
One Ashburnton Place
Boston, MA 02108

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