Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Facts About the Americans with Disabilities Act

Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, which took effect July 26, 1992, prohibits private employers, state and local governments, employment agencies, and labor unions from discriminating against qualified individuals with disabilities in job application procedures, hiring, firing, advancement, compensation, job training, and other terms, conditions and privileges of employment. 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 an impairment; or
• Is regarded as having such an impairment

A qualified employee or applicant with a disability is an individual who, with or without reasonable accommodation, can perform the essential functions of the job in question. Reasonable accommodation may include, but is not limited to:

• Making existing facilities used by employees readily accessible and usable by persons with disabilities

• Job restructuring, modifying work schedules, reassignment to a vacant position

• Acquiring or modifying equipment or devices, adjusting or modifying examinations, training materials, or policies, and providing qualified readers or interpreters

An employer is required to make an accommodation to the known disability of a qualified applicant or employee if it would not impose an “undue hardship” on the operation of the employer. Undue hardship is defined as an action requiring significant difficulty or expense when considered in light of factors such as an employer’s size, financial resources and the nature and structure of its operation.

Reasonable accommodations are available for persons with disabilities to complete the application and/or interview process. Job applicants with disabilities requesting accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) may contact Recruitment by phone at (239) 337-8197. Current District employees with disabilities requesting accommodations under the ADA may contact Professional Standards by phone at (239) 337-8330.

Functions and Responsibilities of Professional Standards as it relates to the ADA:

• Receive and process requests for services/accommodations from school system employees with disabilities
• Gather all appropriate medical and personnel records concerning the employee’s disability
• Convene and facilitate the work of the ADA Committee, which is charged with determining if the employee is a qualified individual with a disability, and with determining potential accommodations
• Facilitate the provision of services/accommodations to employees with disabilities as directed by the ADA Committee
• Review progress of employees and make recommendations to the ADA Committee

Pursuant to School Board Policy 1.22, Equity in School Programs and Employment Practices, the School District of Lee County does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission to its programs, services, or activities, in access to them, in treatment of individuals with disabilities, or in any aspect of the District's operations. The School District of Lee County does not discriminate on the basis of disability in its hiring or employment practices.

This notice is provided as required by Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.