Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences supports our disabled students by recognizing and observing mandates given by the ADA—the world's first comprehensive civil rights law for people with disabilities.

Summary of Title II (SEC 201 and 202); Title III (SEC 302 and 309); and Title V (SEC 510 and 512)

The Act is a national mandate to the eliminate discrimination against a qualified individual with a “disability” by providing standards that address such discrimination. It ensures that the Federal Government enforces the Act and the fourteenth amendment by regulating American businesses in order to address the major areas of discrimination faced day-to-day by people with disabilities. A post-secondary school receiving funding from a federal entity is responsible for complying with the mandates of the ADA. Specifically, Title II, mandates the elimination of “discrimination” against any qualified individual with a "disability" from participating in or receiving benefits from any public “program or activity”. Title III considers it “discrimination” to deny qualified individuals with disabilities the opportunity to participate in or benefit from the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or “accommodations” of an “entity” (public or private). Title V specifies that the Act doesn’t encompass individuals currently use drugs illegally. “Programs and activities” providing educational services may take disciplinary action pertaining to the use or possession of illegal drugs or alcohol against any handicapped student who currently is engaging in the illegal use of drugs or in the use of alcohol.

Definitions

“Disability” (when referring to a person) means:

1. a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of such individual;
2. a record of such an impairment; or
3. being regarded as having such an impairment.

“Discrimination” includes:

1. Using eligibility criteria to screen out individual with a disability from enjoying any services unless the criteria are necessary in order to provide such items; or
2. Failure to make reasonable modifications in policies or procedures when modifications are necessary to afford the services, unless the modifications would fundamentally alter the nature of the services; or
3. Failure to take such steps as may be necessary to ensure that no individual with a disability is excluded or denied services because of the absence of auxiliary aids and services, unless doing so would fundamentally alter the nature of the service and would result in an undue burden

“Private Entity” means any entity other than a public entity.

“Program or Activity” means:

1. A college, university, other postsecondary institution, or a public system of higher education; or
2. A local educational agency (as defined in section 7801 of title 20), system of vocational education, or other school system

“Public Accomodation” means a private entity that accepts federal funding such as:

1. Undergraduate private school; or
2. Postgraduate private school; or
3. Other place of education;

For additional information about the ADA, contact:

U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Civil Rights Division
Disability Rights Section, NYAV
Washington, D.C 20035-6738

www.ada.gov
(800) 514-0301 (Voice)
(800) 514-0383 (TDD)