4.1 General Principles

While we should all strive to be inclusive, providing accommodations for individuals with disabilities goes beyond moral high ground. Accommodations are statutorily required when they are requested or when it is obvious that there is a barrier, such as ensuring an accessible entrance into a public building. The primary sources of these statutory protections are the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

These statutes place affirmative duties on entities to not only prohibit discrimination but also to take steps to make the program, service, or physical location accessible to individuals with disabilities. It is important to dispel the common misconception that providing an accommodation gives an individual with a disability an unfair advantage. In fact, providing an accommodation simply levels the playing field to ensure that such an individual has the same access and opportunity to participate as an individual without a disability.