Who Qualifies for
Disability Services?
(special needs)
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended
defines a person with a disability as any individual who
- has a physical or mental impairment
which substantially limits one or more of such person' major
life activities
- has a record of such impairment, or
- is regarded as having such an
impairment.
Major life activities may include:
speaking, walking, self-care, socialization, receiving training
or education, working, transportation of adaption to housing.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of
1973 defined the term "otherwise qualified person with a
disability." The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA),
1990, provides an additional definition: "Qualified
individual with a disability' means one who, with or without
reasonable modifications to rules, policies, or practices, the
removal of architectural, communication, or transportation
barriers, or the provision of auxiliary aids and services, meets
the essential eligibility requirements for the receipt of
services of the participation in programs or activities provided
by a public entity".
The following list represents some of the
conditions now considered as disabilities or special needs:
- Legal blindness, including one eye only
- AIDS
- Chronic tuberculosis
- Asthma
- Arthritis
- Diabetes
- Cancer
- Heart conditions
- Epilepsy
- Cerebral palsy
- Dyslexia or other learning disabilities
- Previous drug or alcohol dependency
- Other disorders listed in DSM-IV or
DSM-IV-TR
Edison also helps students with temporary
disabilities due to accident or illness. Students are
required to provide documentation of their disabilities before
they can receive special support services. To pass a
course, all students are responsible for completing all
requirements for the course. |
