Civil Rights Compliance

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504

Disability Access, Accommodations, and Complaints

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) is a federal statute which provides protection to individuals with disabilities in the areas of employment, public accommodations, state and local government services, and telecommunications. Similar protections are provided by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

Central Washington University (CWU) policy, the ADA, and Section 504, prohibit discrimination on the basis of a person’s status as a person with a disability, require equal opportunity and access, a process for a person with a disability to request a reasonable accommodation, and a grievance process for an individual to complain of discrimination.

Under applicable disability laws, an individual with a disability is a person who:

• Has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities
• Has a record of such impairment or is regarded as having such an impairment
• Temporary, non-chronic impairments that do not last for a long time and that have little or no long-term impact usually are not disabilities; the determination of whether an impairment is a disability is made on a case-by-case basis.

For more information about 1) Accessibility Resources, 2) Service and Emotional Support Animals, 3) Accommodations, and 4) Policies and Complaint Process, click the appropriate link or utilize the left-hand menu.

Accessibility and Disability Action Planning Team (ADAPT)

ADAPT provides advocacy and advice to the university on matters related to accessibility (academic classes, programs, services, activities, facilities, etc.), as well as advises Disability Services and Human Resources on disability-related matters for the entire university community.

• For more information about ADAPT, visit the "Explore ADAPT" webpage.

Disability Discrimination

Disability discrimination can occur whenever a qualified individual with a disability is denied the same equal opportunities as other CWU students, faculty, and staff because of their disability status.

The ADA Coordinator is responsible for overseeing the University’s compliance with the federal laws addressing disability discrimination and accommodation. Any complaints, questions, or concerns should be made directly to the ADA Coordinator in Civil Rights Compliance.

University policy, as well as state and federal law, strictly prohibit retaliation against an individual for requesting a disability accommodation or for participating in a disability discrimination complaint process.