Overview of Accommodations

Academic accommodations are provided for students and residents who have disabilities as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008, and the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973. That legislation defines a disability as 

• a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities and/or major bodily functions
• a record of having such an impairment, or
• being regarded as having such an impairment.

The nature and severity of the impairment, the duration, or expected duration of the impairment, and the permanent or long term impact or expected impact are factors that are considered in determining whether the impairment substantially limits a major life activity and/or major bodily function.

Major life activities include activities such as caring for one's self, seeing, hearing, walking, breathing, speaking, learning, working, concentrating and thinking.

Major bodily functions include the operation of the immune system, normal cell growth, digestive, bowel, bladder, neurological, brain, respiratory, circulatory, endocrine and reproductive functions.

The medical condition must rise to the level of substantially limiting one or more of these major life activities as compared to that of the average individual in the general population in order for it to be considered a "covered disability." Physical conditions must prevent or restrict the performance of tasks "that are of central importance to most people's daily lives." This includes activities such as "performing household chores, bathing and brushing one's teeth."

This determination of the medical condition being a "covered disability" must be made before

• the individual is afforded protection from discrimination on the basis of disability and
• the determination is made if the individual is "otherwise qualified"---an individual who, with or without reasonable accommodation, can perform the essential functions of the technical standards of the academic program
• consideration is given to any "reasonable accommodation(s)" that might allow the individual to meet the technical standards of his/her academic program.

For additional information or inquiries, contact Connie Hesler, Senior Coordinator for Academic Accommodations Services, chesler@kumc.edu, 913.588.4686, KU Medical Center, Mail Stop 4029, 3901 Rainbow Boulevard, Kansas City, KS 66160