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Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADAAA, 2008) are federal laws that protect the rights of  people with disabilities. They mandate equal opportunity for access in all programs and activities, which receive federal financial assistance. The laws prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals solely on the basis of handicap.   Post secondary education is governed by Section 504 and the ADA.
 

These laws differ from The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which governs K-12 students with disabilities. The IDEA provides services for identifying, evaluating and planning an Individual Education Plan. Universities do not necessarily provide these same services, since the reasons for accommodations in high school are different than in college. University accommodations focus on accessibility.

Under Section 504 and the ADA, the University student is responsible for providing required documentation and requesting appropriate adjustments. Also, the laws state that the student must be "otherwise qualified", that is, despite having a disability, the student is able to meet the admission standards for the University, and can demonstrate the ability to meet or exceed the academic standards set by the institution, with or without accommodations.

Lastly, the diagnosis of a disability does not necessarily imply the need for accommodations at the University level. The degree of impairment and current functioning are the critical factors in making a determination. Documentation provided to Dominican University must be thorough enough to support the specific accommodation requested, or further information may be required.
 
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