The University of New Orleans (UNO) is committed to providing for the needs of enrolled or admitted students who have disabilities under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA).
Title V of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is generally regarded as the first civil rights legislation on the national level for people with disabilities. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act is a program access statute. This statute prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in any program or activity offered by an entity or institution receiving federal funds.
Section 504 (as amended) states:
No otherwise qualified person with a disability in the United States . . . shall, solely on the basis of disability, be denied access to, or the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity provided by any institution receiving federal financial assistance.
Under Section 504, institutions are required to appoint and maintain at least one person to coordinate efforts to comply with the requirements of Section 504 (Section 504 Coordinator). This individual or office has the ongoing responsibility of assuring that the institution/agency/organization practices nondiscrimination on the basis of disability and should be included in any grievance procedures developed to address possible instances of discrimination brought against the institution.
At UNO, the established office for the coordination of Section 504 compliance for students with disabilities is the Office of Disability Services, located in University Center, Room 260. (504) 280-6222
The ADA is a federal civil rights statute that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities. The five sections of this law include: employment, public service, public accommodations and services operated by private entities, telecommunications, and miscellaneous provisions. The ADA provides additional protection for persons with disabilities in conjunction with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The ADA is designed to remove barriers that prevent qualified individuals with disabilities from enjoying the same opportunities that are available to persons without disabilities.
The ADA Compliance Officer is the Director of Renovations and Design, Facility Services Building, (504) 280-6363.
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