ACL Medical Training provides reasonable accommodations to ensure that students with disabilities can access this Institution’s academic environment, adhering to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Reasonable accommodations are determined from current documentation and on a case-by-case basis. Complying with academic standards essential to a course of study is generally considered non-discriminatory.
Students requesting reasonable accommodations from ACL must self-identify by contacting Student Services or a designee. Applying for reasonable accommodations does not guarantee that the student will qualify for accommodations.
Students requesting reasonable accommodations must have a documented disability defined by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Documentation is evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Documentation deemed insufficient will require the student to provide additional documentation. Guidelines for documentation are available from the Student Services Office or designated location. Documentation generally includes the following:
- Diagnosis from a professional source.
- Explanation of how the disability will affect the student’s “Essential Function Abilities” while in an academic setting;
- Recommended academic adjustments;
- Explanations of how the student’s disability relates to the adjustments.
Student Services is responsible for determining the student’s eligibility for reasonable accommodations. If students cannot demonstrate the following skills and abilities, they are responsible for requesting appropriate accommodations. ACL will provide reasonable accommodations to the student(s) if they do not radically alter the continuity of the Program. Students must request accommodations at least 30 days prior to the start of class.
Americans with Disabilities Act Guidelines
Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) provides comprehensive civil rights protections for “qualified individuals with disabilities.” The “individual with a disability” is a person who:
- Has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a “major life activity,” or
- Has a record of such an impairment, or
- Is regarded as having such an impairment.
Federal regulations state that “physical or mental impairments” include but are not limited to “such contagious and noncontagious diseases and conditions as orthopedic, visual, speech, and hearing impairments; cerebral palsy, epilepsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, mental retardation, emotional illness, specific learning disabilities, HIV disease (whether symptomatic or asymptomatic), tuberculosis, drug addiction, and alcoholism.” “Major life activities” include caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, eating, standing, lifting/bending, thinking, concentrating, reading, communicating, sleeping, and working. “Major life activities” also include “major bodily functions,” which include, without limitation, functions of the immune system; digestive, bladder, and bowel functions; respiratory and circulatory functions; reproductive functions; cell growth; neurological and brain functions; and endocrine functions. Individuals who currently engage in the illegal use of drugs are not protected by the ADA when an action is taken based on the recurrent unlawful use of drugs.
“Qualified” individuals are defined as follows:
- A “qualified” individual with a disability meets the essential eligibility requirements of the Program or activity offered.
- The “essential eligibility requirements” will depend on the type of service or activity involved.