ADA Compliance

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides civil rights protection to individuals with disabilities in employment, public accommodations, State and local government services, and telecommunications. The ADA was designed to remove barriers that prevent qualified individuals with disabilities from enjoying the same opportunities available to persons without disabilities. Enabling qualified individuals with disabilities to enjoy the same opportunities as persons without disabilities is done according to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), the ADA Amendments Act of 2008, and as detailed in the University of Kentucky Affirmative Action Plan.

The ADA provides that no qualified individual with a disability shall, on the basis of disability, be excluded from participation in or be denied the benefits of the University’s services, programs, or activities.

Disability discrimination can occur whenever a qualified individual with a disability is denied the same equal opportunities as other university students, faculty, staff, participants, and visitors because of their disability status.

Under applicable disability laws, an individual with a disability is a person who:

1. has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities;
2. has a record of such an impairment; or
3. is regarded as having such an impairment. Temporary, non-chronic impairments that do not last for a long time and have little or no long-term impact are usually not disabilities. Whether an impairment is a disability is determined on a case-by-case basis.

The University is dedicated to providing reasonable accommodation to qualified students, employees, and all those with disabilities participating in its programs and services. The University’s Strategic Plan outlines a commitment to a diverse workplace and learning community, a distinguished faculty and staff, and an increasingly higher caliber of students. This dream drives the challenge of providing quality educational and occupational opportunities for everyone, including qualified individuals with disabilities.

ADA Coordinator

The University has designated Heather Roop as the ADA Coordinator and Brandon Williams as the Deputy ADA Coordinator. Ms. Roop and Mr. Williams are responsible for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and handle reasonable accommodations requested by University employees, participants, and visitors. You may reach Ms. Roop or Mr. Williams with questions about the ADA or reasonable accommodations at the following:

Heather Roop
Director of Campus Accessibility & ADA Coordinator
Office of Campus Accessibility and ADA
218 Peterson Service Building
Lexington, KY 40506-0005
(859) 257-8928

Brandon Williams
Deputy ADA Coordinator & Technical Compliance Analyst
Office of Campus Accessibility and ADA
218 Peterson Service Building
Lexington, KY 40506-0005
(859) 562-2601

What is a “major life activity” under the law?

To be considered a person with a disability, the impairment must substantially limit one or more major life activities. Examples of major life activities include walking, speaking, breathing, performing manual tasks, seeing, hearing, learning, and caring for oneself.

What does “qualified” mean?

To be protected, a person must not only be an individual with a disability but must be qualified. For students, a qualified individual with a disability is a person who, with or without reasonable modifications to rules, policies, or practices; the removal of architectural, communication, or transportation barriers; or the provision of auxiliary aids or services, meets the essential requirements for the receipt of services or participation in programs or activities provided by the University.

For University employees, a qualified individual with a disability is someone who satisfies the requisite skill, experience, education, and other job-related requirements of the employment position and who, with or without a reasonable accommodation, can perform the essential functions of the job.

What is a reasonable accommodation?

For University Students

A reasonable accommodation is a reasonable modification in policies, practices, or procedures when the modification is necessary to avoid discrimination on the basis of disability unless the modification would fundamentally alter the nature of a University service, program, or activity.

If you are a University student and need a reasonable accommodation, contact the Disability Resource Center (DRC). Director Dr. David Beach and the DRC staff are available to answer questions, review medical documentation, and arrange services for all qualified students admitted to the University.

Disability Resource Center
Multidisciplinary Science Building, Suite 407
725 Rose Street
Lexington, KY 40536-0082
(859) 257-2754

Or

East Wing - Gatton Student Center Location
C300D Gatton Student Center
160 Avenue of Champions
Lexington, KY 40506-3396
(859) 257-2754

For University employees

A reasonable accommodation is a modification or adjustment to a job, employment practice, or work environment that makes it possible for a qualified individual with a disability to enjoy an equal employment opportunity. The University will provide a reasonable accommodation to the known disability of a qualified applicant or employee with a disability unless the accommodation imposes an undue hardship.

If you are a qualified University faculty member or staff employee with a disability, you may request a reasonable accommodation from your supervisor, chair, dean, or the Office of Campus Accessibility and ADA by completing a Request for a Reasonable Accommodation Form. When the disability is not obvious, you may be asked to submit sufficient medical documentation. Your provider may fill out the Medical Inquiry Form and provide your Reasonable Accommodation Form as sufficient medical documentation. You may also contact the office:

Office of Campus Accessibility and ADA
218 Peterson Service Building
Lexington, KY 40506-0005
(859) 562-2601

For Public Accommodations

A reasonable accommodation is a change or modification to afford a qualified individual with a disability full enjoyment of the University’s programs or activities unless modifications of policies, practices, and procedures would fundamentally alter the nature of the program, service, or activity, or result in undue financial and administrative burdens to the University.

If you are participating in or attending a University program or activity, contact the Office of Campus Accessibility and ADA at (859) 562-2601 or by email at ADAaccommodations@uky.edu to request a reasonable accommodation.

Applicants for Employment

If you are interested in employment opportunities at the University and require reasonable accommodation during the application process, contact Human Resources at (859) 257-9555.

When and how does the University provide reasonable accommodations?

The University is obligated to make reasonable accommodations only for the known disability of an otherwise qualified employee, student, participant, or visitor. In general, it is the responsibility of the employee, student, participant, or visitor to make the disability status and subsequent need for an accommodation known to the appropriate University official.

Once on notice of the need for accommodations, the University official and the individual with a disability are responsible for discussing possible accommodations and assessing the reasonableness and effectiveness of each potential accommodation.

Accommodations are determined on a case-by-case basis. Determining a reasonable accommodation is very fact-specific. In general, the accommodation must be tailored to address the nature of the disability and the needs of the individual within the context of the job requirements, program of study, or program or activity. If there are two or more possible accommodations, and one costs more or is more burdensome than the other, the University will give primary consideration to the preference of the individual with a disability; however, the University may choose the less expensive or burdensome accommodation as long as it is effective.

Service Animals and the ADA

The ADA defines a service animal as a dog individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability. Service animals are working animals, not pets, and the work or task a dog has been trained to provide must be directly related to the person’s disability. Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA.

Under Title I of the ADA, an employee must request a service animal as a reasonable accommodation in the workplace. The employee must request the service animal as a reasonable accommodation through the University’s ADA accommodation process. Employees may not bring their service animal to the workplace unless approved through the ADA process. 

If an employee, student, participant, or visitor has a service animal, only limited inquiries are allowed when it is not obvious what service an animal provides. There are only two questions that may be asked:

1. Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability? and
2. What work or task is the dog trained to perform?

Staff cannot ask about the person’s disability, require medical documentation, a special identification card, or training documentation for the dog, or ask that the dog demonstrate its ability to perform the work or task.

Where to Go for Help

Employees, please contact the Office of Campus Accessibility and ADA if you have questions about your rights under the ADA, whether you are a qualified individual with a disability, or the documentation required to establish that status. Individuals, supervisors, or an individual with their supervisor may schedule an appointment to determine eligibility and reasonable, effective accommodation(s) that would enable the individual to perform the essential functions of their position successfully.

Employees requesting accommodation may be required to provide medical documentation regarding the disability and requested accommodation. The medical information provided is maintained in the Office of Campus Accessibility and ADA, separate from personnel files, and is strictly confidential. The Office of Campus Accessibility and ADA will only release information related to providing reasonable accommodation or information necessary to address safety issues in the work setting to supervisors.

If students, employees, or visitors to the University need accommodations to participate in University programs (outside of academics) or activities, contact Office of Campus Accessibility and ADA at (859) 562-2601.