ADA information Guide
Knowing your rights and about the process empowers you to advocate for yourself and have lawful information when you run into problems
Technical Standards
What are they?
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Non-academic abilities (physical, cognitive, behavioral) that medical and PA programs say are essential to safely complete training and practice medicine.
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Schools can require students to meet essential functions of a program WITH or WITHOUT accommodations
BUT under disability law they must ask:
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Can the student meet these requirements with reasonable accommodation?
ADA
The ADA is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in many areas of life, including education.
For medical students, this means:
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You cannot be excluded because of a disability
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Schools must provide reasonable accommodations
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Programs must give you a fair chance to meet requirements
The ADA focuses on access and equity, not lowering academic or clinical standards.
Title II
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Title II states that "No qualified individual with a disability shall, by reason of such disability, be excluded from participation in or be denied the benefits of the services, programs, or activities of a public entity". Requiring that qualified students with disabilities have equal access to education and training.
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Applies to public institutions—including state-funded universities, PA programs, teaching hospitals, and clinical training sites.
Under Title II, schools may NOT:
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Deny access without considering accommodations
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Apply rules differently to students with disabilities
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Make decisions based on assumptions or stigma
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Retaliate for requesting accommodations
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
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If a school receives federal funding, it cannot discriminate based on disability and must provide equal access.
What is equal access?
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You cannot be denied admission or participation because of a disability
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Must provide accommodations
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The goal is to put you on equal footing, not give an advantage
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School must evaluate you fairly
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Schools cannot treat you differently
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Cannot use biased or unfair criteria
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Must assess you based on ability with accommodations in place
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Schools CAN deny accommodations only if they can show:
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Fundamental alteration (changes the nature of training)
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Undue burden (significant difficulty)
Section 504 guarantees:
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You have the right to be in the program
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You have the right to accommodations
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You must be evaluated fairly
BUT:
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You still must meet core competencies
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Schools can limit accommodations in specific, justified cases
