University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Policy Name: Accessible Environments and Disability Accommodations Responsibilities
Policy Number: LR 207.2
Effective Date: June 27, 2013
Revised Dates: August 17, 1995; June 8, 2010; June 27, 2013
Most Recent Review Date: –
Purpose
UA Little Rock is committed to meeting the needs of students, employees, visitors, alumni, and other stakeholders with disabilities. This policy outlines who is responsible for providing accommodations, and who is responsible for funding them.
Policy
UA Little Rock strives to provide a usable, equitable, inclusive and sustainable environment free from all discrimination, including discrimination on the basis of disability. In keeping with this the following procedures have been put into place to provide delineation of responsibility for providing accommodations.
Procedures
Interpreters and Transcribers
Disability Resource Center (DRC)
- DRC will provide and fund interpreters or transcribers for students for classes, extra-curricular activities, labs, field trips related to coursework, and tutoring sessions, upon request by the student.
- DRC will provide and fund interpreters or transcribers for employees at department meetings and work-related assignments upon request of the department, but only for the duration of the first fiscal year of employment, when this is not included in the department’s budget.
- DRC will provide and fund interpreters or transcribers upon request for UA Little Rock-sponsored social events or programs that are not directly related to an academic class, such as workshops, organizational meetings, or events. Note: The exception is when the event is financed by fees or ticket sales.
Hiring Department/Unit/College
- Hiring unit will provide and fund interpreters or transcribers for employees at department meetings and work-related assignments upon request. For a new hire, if the department was not able to budget for this expense, the DRC will assume this responsibility until the end of that fiscal year, after which time the department will assume responsibility. The DRC will provide interpreting or transcribing resources as needed.
Human Resources (HR)
- HR will provide and fund interpreters or transcribers for applicants for interviews, as well as for all grievance procedures or complaints by employees or applicants. The DRC will provide interpreting or transcribing resources as needed.
Program Sponsor
- When UA Little Rock-sponsored social events or programs are financed by fees or ticket sales, the sponsor of the program will provide and fund interpreters or transcribers upon request. The DRC will provide interpreting or transcribing resources as needed.
Written Materials
DRC
- Obtain textbooks in an accessible format for students, upon request.
- Provide technical assistance and training to faculty on accessible formats for materials for students.
- Upon request by department, convert materials for students to Braille.
- Provide technical assistance and training to university departments/units on accessible formats for employee materials. Upon request by department, convert employee materials to Braille.
Department/Unit
- Provide materials needed for an employee in digital, large print or similar format. For Braille requests, provide materials to DRC for conversion.
Faculty
- Provide materials needed for students (handouts, PowerPoints, slides) upon request for digital, large print or similar format. Contact DRC with questions about format accessibility. Handouts are to be given to student at same time as the other students in class (or earlier). For Braille requests, provide materials to DRC for conversion.
- Design all written materials in an accessible way to minimize the need for an individual accommodation.
Multimedia
DRC
- For existing multimedia materials that are not accessible, the department owning the media will provide it to the DRC to add captions. DRC will provide and pay for adding captions. Priority is given to classes that have or will soon have a deaf student enrolled.
- If captions on existing materials is needed with rapid turnaround, the department/unit has the option of purchasing a captioned version of the media at their expense, or will be given resources to have it captioned by an outside company at the department’s expense.
Web Accessibility
DRC
- Provide technical assistance and training to faculty on web accessibility, including tagging images and captioning videos.
Department/Unit
- In compliance with the UA Little Rock Web Accessibility Policy, no inaccessible information will be posted to any ualr.edu site. Each unit is responsible for posting web content that is accessible. Visual elements, such as images, should be described, and auditory elements, such as videos or audio streams, should be captioned or at a minimum transcribed. Request technical assistance and training from the DRC.
Adaptive Equipment/Materials
Department/Unit
- Accessibility needs incorporated into renovations.
- 3-D models, lab equipment, other assistive technology as needed under $500 are provided and funded by the university department/unit.
- Accessibility needs should be incorporated into renovations.
- May request major purchases through CADA.
- University department is responsible for maintenance and repair of equipment purchased by CADA or other funding source that is housed in the department/unit.
Outside Organizations Using UA Little Rock Facilities
- When outside organizations utilize UA Little Rock facilities, they should sign an agreement that they will provide accommodations, such as interpreters and alternate formats if needed. If this is not done, the organizing university unit runs the risk of bearing the expense for providing accommodations.
If departments feel they cannot fund an accommodation, they should request assistance within their chain of command (i.e. Dean, Vice-Chancellor).
Source: ADA & University-wide Administrative Memo, August 17, 1995
Status: Active
Approved By: Chancellor Joel E. Anderson
Originator:
Custodian: Disability Resource Center