What does that mean?
Reasonable accessibility measures? Undue burden? Temporary impairment? We can help make sense of some common terms that you may hear when navigating services at AES.
Reasonable Accessibility Measures (Accommodations)
A reasonable accessibility measure (accommodation) is any modification or adjustment that will enable a student with a qualifying medical condition, under the Americans with Disabilities Act, to participate in a course, program, activity, or service. Reasonable accessibility measures assure that students with qualifying medical conditions have rights, privileges, and access equal to students without qualifying medical conditions. Reasonable accessibility measures do not alter the essential requirements of a course or program – they simply provide an alternative way to meet the course or program requirements. AES coordinates the process of arranging accessibility measures, working closely with students and instructors to ensure that accessibility-related barriers are reduced or eliminated without compromising the fundamental nature of a course or creating an undue burden.
Undue Burden
According to Title II or Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), an undue burden is modifications or service that would cause a significant difficulty or expense if carried out. This means that organization covered by the ADA does not have to provide an auxiliary aid or service, or a modification, if providing it would cause a significant administrative or financial difficulty.
When deciding whether something is an undue burden, several factors are considered. These factors include the overall cost involved for the organization and the operation and nature of the organization. If the accommodation is an undue burden, the organization must look for an effective alternative.
Qualifying Medical Condition under the ADA
The Americans with Disabilities Act defines a disability as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life functions. A student may have readily apparent or obvious impairment and/or documentation which demonstrates that their disorder or impairment is covered under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA).
Temporary Impairments
Temporary impairments are short-term impairments that result from injuries, surgery, or medical conditions. Examples include, but are not limited to, broken bones, sprains, concussions, and appendicitis.
If you need services because of a temporary impairment, contact the Accessible Educational Services as soon as possible. Temporary conditions generally are not covered under the American with Disabilities Act, but often require assistance or support on a limited basis. You must provide documentation of your condition from a medical professional who is not related to you.
The final disposition of academic adjustments for temporary impairments depends on the condition, instructors' course requirements, and the adjustments needed to continue with those classes.
Service Animals
Service animals, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), are “dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities.” The university also recognizes miniature horses as a service animal consistent with relevant ADA guidelines and regulations. Examples of tasks that a service animal might perform include:
- Guiding a person who is blind
- Alerting a person who is deaf
- Pulling a wheelchair
- Alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure
- Reminding a person with mental illness to take prescribed medications
- Calming a person with post-traumatic stress disorder during an anxiety attack
Service animals are welcome anywhere their handlers are permitted on campus (exceptions may exist for health and safety reasons). Contact AES if there are concerns.
Emotional Support Animals
Emotional support animals are not considered service animals under the ADA, and they are not granted access to areas of public accommodation at IU Bloomington. They are permitted in student housing with prior approval. Please contact IU Housing for more information.