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Title I of the ADA requires an employer to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities who are employees or applicants for employment, except when such accommodation would cause an undue hardship. The Office of Human Resources at Elmira College is committed to guiding employees and the departments involved through the accommodation process with care and attention to the needs of all impacted by the outcome.

What is a disability?

The Americans with Disability Act (ADA) defines a person with a disability as a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activity. This includes people who have a record of such an impairment, even if they do not currently have a disability.

Major life activities are defined as functions such as caring for one's self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, and working. Whether a particular condition constitutes a disability within the meaning of the ADA requires a case-by-case determination.

What is a reasonable accommodation?

A reasonable accommodation is any change to the application or hiring process, to the job, to the way the job is done, or the work environment that allows a person with a disability who is qualified for the job to perform the essential functions of that job and enjoy equal employment opportunities. Accommodations are considered “reasonable” if they do not create an undue hardship or a direct threat to the College or other coworkers.

Examples of reasonable accommodations include, but are not limited to: acquiring or modifying equipment or workspace (i.e. installing a ramp or moving where work is performed), changing application or training materials (i.e. offering a version in braille), providing qualified readers or interpreters, or providing additional protected time off.

Under the ADA, a qualified individual with a disability is an individual with a disability who meets the essential eligibility requirements for receipt of services or participation in programs or activities.

An individual with a disability is a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits major life activities; has a record of such an impairment; or is regarded as having such an impairment.

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