What is a Disability?

According to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (as amended), "Disability" concerning an individual means the following:

  • a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities of such individual;
  • a record of such an impairment; or
  • being regarded as having such an impairment.

Major life activities include, but are not limited to:

  • Bending
  • Breathing
  • Caring for oneself
  • Communicating
  • Concentrating
  • Eating
  • Hearing
  • Learning
  • Lifting
  • Performing manual tasks
  • Reading
  • Seeing
  • Sleeping
  • Speaking
  • Standing
  • Thinking
  • Walking
  • Working

A significant life activity also includes:

  • The operation of a primary bodily function includes functions of the immune system, average cell growth, digestive, bowel, bladder, neurological, brain, respiratory, circulatory, endocrine, and reproductive functions.

An individual has a disability if:

  • They establish that they have been subjected to an action prohibited under the ADAAA because of an actual or perceived physical or mental impairment, whether or not the impairment limits or is perceived to limit a significant life activity.

The determination of whether an impairment substantially limits major life activities shall be made without regard to the ameliorative effects of mitigating measures such as:

  • Medication, medical supplies, equipment, or appliances, low-vision devices (which do not include ordinary eyeglasses or contact lenses), prosthetics including limbs and devices, hearing aids and cochlear implants or other implantable hearing devices, mobility devices, or oxygen therapy equipment and supplies;
  • Use of assistive technology;
  • Reasonable accommodations or auxiliary aids or services; or
  • Learned behavioral or adaptive neurological modifications.

Upon request, the university will provide reasonable accommodation(s) to students whose conditions meet the legal definition of a disability under the ADA and are otherwise qualified.

For more information on the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (as amended), click here.