OCR Clarifies Rights of Postsecondary Students with Disabilities
The U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights (OCR) has released a fact sheet to clarify the civil rights requirements for students with disabilities in postsecondary education.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act prohibits discrimination based on disability and requires colleges and universities that receive federal funding to provide reasonable academic accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. However, institutions are not obligated to implement accommodations that would significantly change the essential nature of a program.
The process emphasizes individualized evaluation, requiring institutions to consider requests on a case-by-case basis according to each student’s specific needs and circumstances. This involves a collaborative approach, recognizing the value of the student’s firsthand knowledge of effective accommodations and the institution’s expertise in its programs, resources, and prior experiences with accommodations.