Lunchtime discussion to explore ADA accommodations

Full-time and adjunct faculty are invited to attend an upcoming brown-bag lunch sponsored by the Office of Disability Services. “What Makes an Accommodation ‘Reasonable’ Under the ADA?” will be held at noon Friday, Sept. 23 in the O’Hare Academic Center, Room 121.

Led by Laura Kcira-Barry, disability services coordinator, and Susan Pratt, director of the Academic Center for Excellence, the lunch will address the following questions:

• What are faculty responsibilities under the Americans With Disabilities Act when it comes to providing disability accommodations?
• What makes an accommodation “reasonable” or “unreasonable” under the law?
• Are there conditions under which a faculty member can deny an accommodation request?
• How do “essential program requirements” and “technical standards” play a role?

Faculty are encouraged to bring their lunch, questions, thoughts and experiences to participate in a lively discussion about this often controversial (and never black and white) issue.