DEFINITIONS

The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, it included Section 504  forbade discrimination against persons with disabilities by programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance, which included virtually every institution of higher education, except the U.S. military academies and a few small religious schools.

A postsecondary institution must make reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities so that they can participate in programs and activities.

Colleges must make "academic accommodations " for students with disabilities so that they can participate. in the academic and  extra curriculum at the institution.  Academic accommodations include extended time for test taking or completion of course work; tape recording of classes; substitution of specific courses to meet degree requirements; modification of test taking, and other adjustments.

Colleges do not have to provide accommodations that would "fundamentally alter" the educational program or academic requirements  essential to a program of study or  necessary to fulfill licensing requirements.

Individuals With Disabilities Act

Office of Special Education Home Page

http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/osep/index.html

Glossary of Disabilities Definitions

http://www.ideapractices.org/law/regulations/glossaryIndex.php

The rights of students with disabilities are protected under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504),  the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA),  the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1990 (IDEA), and the Disabilities Education Act of 1997, Public Law 105017.