How to Make Programs Accessible
- What is the ADA?
- The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a comprehensive national mandate designed to eliminate discrimination against individuals with disabilities.
- Who Is Qualified As Disabled?
- Disability is defined as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, such as walking, seeing, breathing, working and learning. Examples include orthopedic, visual, speech and hearing impairments, epilepsy, muscular dystrophy, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, emotional illness, learning disabilities and HIV disease.
- Departmental Responsibilities
- Programs are required to move beyond the obvious needs of people with mobility impairments and begin to address the highly individualized needs of the entire disabled population. Since there is no single all-encompassing description of a "disabled person," programs must address access needs on an individual basis. Listed below are suggestions to improve access for people with various types and degrees of disabilities.
- Program Access
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- Include a general statement in all of your publications and announcements communicating to people with disabilities that they are welcome to your program. The statement may read "Access provided for people with disabilities. Call (person or office) by (date) for specific requests."
- Offer printed materials in alternate forms. Taped version, large print and Braille copies make materials available to people with limited vision. Braille printers are available at Disability Services and several EITS computer sites.
- Communicate the availability of Assistive Listening Devices (ALD) for people attending your programs. One common ALD, the FM system, is a small transmitter that amplifies the speech of the speaker while eliminating background noise. Call the Disability Resource Center to reserve a FM system if one of your program participants requests one.
- Advertise that a sign language interpreter is available upon request. People who are deaf can then have access to your program. Call the Disability Resource Center to schedule the services of a staff interpreter or to receive assistance in locating a qualified freelance interpreter.
- Relocate programs that are architecturally inaccessible. Dr. Tom Bowen in Academic Affairs (542-7715) may be able to assist in finding an alternate location. The Tate Student Center is an accessible building and may have available meeting rooms. Call Student Activities (542-7774) for more information.
- Secure accessible transportation for programs that are reserving University vehicles. Contact Bill Fox (542-6477).
For more information contact:
Disability Resource Center
The University of Georgia
114 Clark Howell Hall
Athens, Georgia 30602-3338
(706) 542-8719 (voice)
(706) 542-7719 (fax)
(706) 542-8778 (tty)