2.5 Institutional Policy on Disability

2.5 Institutional Policy on Disability

As part of its commitment to maintaining a highly qualified and diverse student population and workforce, and in keeping with its obligations under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), Ithaca College offers equal opportunity, participation, and access to its programs, services, and activities to qualified individuals with disabilities.

It is the policy of Ithaca College that discrimination on the basis of disability as defined in Section 504 or under the ADA will not exist in any activity, area, or operation of the College, and retaliation against an individual for asserting his or her rights under Section 504 or the ADA will not be tolerated.

Employees, students, and visitors to Ithaca College are encouraged to bring any concerns regarding known or suspected instances of disability-based discrimination to the attention of the Director of Benefits Compliance, who is hereby designated as the person responsible for coordinating the College's compliance with Section 504 and the ADA. Complaints will be handled promptly, equitably, and in accordance with the Guidelines for Resolving Discrimination Complaints (see section 2.7.).

2.5.1 Admission of Students

Ithaca College does not offer separate admission standards or procedures to prospective students with disabilities, and applicants are not requested or required to disclose their disability in the admission process. For applicants who do submit information about a disability voluntarily, that information may be considered only to determine whether the applicant is otherwise qualified for the program for which he or she has applied. In all other respects, applications are reviewed without regard to disability. For information about services for students with disabilities, prospective students and their parents are encouraged to contact the Office of Admission at 607-274-3124 or admission@ithaca.edu or the Office of Student Disability Services at 607-274-1005 or sds@ithaca.edu.

2.5.2 Services for Students with Disabilities

See section 7.1.3 of the Ithaca College Policy Manual.

2.5.3 Employees with Disabilities Accommodation Policy

Pursuant to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and state law, Ithaca College will reasonably accommodate all employees with disabilities as defined by the statutes. Failure to reasonably accommodate employees with disabilities is a violation of federal/state law and campus policy.

To ensure that an employee can perform or continue to perform (if the disability occurs after employment) his/her job responsibilities, a reasonable accommodation by Ithaca College may include the purchase of special equipment, changing the physical layout of the workplace, restructuring job responsibilities and duties, modifying the work schedule, etc. A reasonable accommodation that creates an undue hardship for the employer is not required by the law. However, since what constitutes an undue hardship is contingent upon a number of variables, supervisors must contact the Office of Human Resources before disciplining, transferring, terminating or relieving an employee of job responsibilities due to disability.

To be eligible for a reasonable accommodation employees must declare their disabilities. Once the Office of Human Resources is provided with written documentation by a physician that describes the disability and recommends specific accommodations, the employee has fulfilled his/her responsibility. Employees, including those who are returning from disability leave or receiving Workers' Compensation, should work directly with benefits staff in human resources.

An employee who is a recovering alcoholic is considered a person with a disability under the ADA, and may be entitled to reasonable accommodations if he or she is qualified to perform the essential duties of the job. However, an employee may be terminated or otherwise disciplined if his or her use of alcohol adversely affects job performance or conduct. Moreover, the College may terminate or take other disciplinary action against any employee who poses a direct threat to health or safety of other individuals in the workplace.

Even though the employee provides input concerning the accommodation process, Ithaca College will determine what constitutes a reasonable accommodation on a case-by-case basis and reserves the right to request additional independent medical examinations, evaluations or other appropriate information at the College's expense.

A form describing the disability and any provided accommodations will be completed by the Office of Human Resources, signed by the employee and placed in a secure file, other than the employee's personnel file in accordance with the law. Disability information is treated as confidential and will be shared with College administrators only on a need to know basis. Ithaca College will not provide accommodations without appropriate documentation.

The Office of Human Resources is the administrative office responsible for the management, implementation and coordination of the Ithaca College Employees with Disabilities Accommodation Policy. Concerns with respect to employment accommodations, architectural barriers, and building or program modifications related to disability access should be directed to the Director of Employee Relations and Development.

QUESTIONS AND COMPLAINTS CAN BE DIRECTED TO:

Director of Benefits Compliance
Peggy Ryan Williams Center, Garden Level
Ithaca College
953 Danby Road
Ithaca, NY 14850
607-274-8000
607-274-1670 (fax)
humanresources@ithaca.edu

2.5.4 Services for Visitors of the College

Ithaca College, a "public accommodation" pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, will provide reasonable accommodations to campus visitors with disabilities. For information regarding campus accessibility and accommodations for College sponsored events, please contact the Office of Human Resources at 607-274-8000. To request an accommodation, please contact the event sponsor at least ten days prior to the event/visit.

Last Updated: June 8, 2021