“We celebrate the 30th anniversary of landmark federal civil rights legislation, mandating that access and opportunity include people with disabilities.”
UW System President Tommy Thompson
The Universities of Wisconsin are committed to having individuals with disabilities as full participants in its programs, services and activities. The Board of Regents recognizes that individuals with disabilities may need accommodations to have equally effective opportunities to participate in or benefit from university programs, services and activities.
Three entities within the Universities of Wisconsin are responsible for developing policy, advising faculty, staff and students, and providing services to people with disabilities:
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Coordinators
Responsible for overseeing ADA compliance at each UW university - Coordinators of Services for Students with Disabilities (CSSD)
Responsible for responding to student needs at each university - President’s Advisory Committee on Disability Issues (PACDI)
Responsible for advising the Universities of Wisconsin President
The Universities of Wisconsin also promote the concept of Universal Design throughout its public university system. This concept holds that all designs should attempt to optimize usability for everyone, regardless of abilities. This includes the physical environment, the information environment and the curricular environment.
Supporting equal opportunities in education, the Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents’ policy on Nondiscrimination on Basis of Disability states, “no otherwise qualified individual with a disability shall be denied access to or participation in any program, service, or activity offered by the universities.”
As an example of this policy in practice for students, Regent policy on Copying and Recording of Instructional Materials or Lectures outlines a specific exception to instructors’ right to limit or restrict students from copying, recording or using instructional materials or lectures: “Reasonable accommodations shall be provided to qualified students with disabilities who may require the use of a recording device, note-taker or other assistance or technology to effectively access instructional materials and lectures in order to participate in an educational or academic course, event or program.”
Through compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Wisconsin Fair Employment Act (WFEA), and other applicable state and federal laws, the Universities of Wisconsin are committed to providing an environment that is accessible to everyone.