Laws, Policies, Procedures & Resources

The following links point to a collection of laws, policies, procedures, and resources that support the needs of disabled people on campus. Some resources listed below are targeted specifically to the needs of students, while others are geared to support faculty, staff, or campus guests and visitors.

Laws

Federal

Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (as amended 2008)

A U.S. civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in various aspects of public life, including employment, public services, and public accommodations. It ensures that people with disabilities have the same opportunities as everyone else to participate fully in society.

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

A civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in programs and activities that receive federal funding or are conducted by federal agencies. It ensures that individuals with disabilities have equal access to educational opportunities, employment, and other benefits.

Olmstead Act

Resulting from the 1999 Supreme Court case Olmstead v. L.C., mandates that states provide community-based services to individuals with disabilities, rather than institutionalizing them, when appropriate and feasible. This decision established that unjustified segregation of people with disabilities is a form of discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

State

California Fair Employment and Housing Act

A state law that prohibits discrimination and harassment in employment and housing based on protected characteristics. It covers employers with five or more employees, and its anti-harassment provisions apply to all employers. FEHA provides broader protections than federal law, particularly for those with disabilities, and also includes protections for gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, and familial status, among others.

California Disabled Persons Act

A state law that ensures individuals with disabilities have the same rights and access to public places and services as the general public. It prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in areas like public buildings, accommodations, and transportation.

Unruh Civil Rights Act

A state law that prohibits discrimination by business establishments based on various characteristics. It ensures all persons are entitled to full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities, privileges, or services in all business establishments, regardless of factors like sex, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, medical condition, etc.

California Building Code

Policies

UCOP

Policies Applying to Campus Activities, Organizations and Students (PACAOS) 20

Policy on Nondiscrimination

Policies Applying to Campus Activities, Organizations and Students (PACAOS) 140

Policy applying to nondiscrimination on the basis of disability

Anti Discrimination Policy

Addresses the University's responsibilities and procedures related to discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, as defined in the Policy

Information Technology Accessibility Policy

Seeks to deploy information technology that has been designed, developed, or procured to be accessible to people with disabilities, including those who use assistive technologies

Personnel Policies for Staff Members (PPSM) 81

Addresses the interactive process in which the University engages with employees with disabilities to identify and implement reasonable accommodations that will enable employees to perform the essential functions of their positions.

UC Berkeley

Academic Personnel Manual (APM) Section 711

Procedures setting out how campus will provide reasonable accommodation to faculty and other academic appointees who are disabled and need assistance to perform the essential functions of their positions

Union Contracts

The University of California, Berkeley currently has 17 different bargaining units on campus. Each bargaining unit has a separate contract with a union that represents all employees covered under that unit.

Other Power Driven Mobility Devices (OPDMD)

UC Berkeley must allow people with disabilities who use manual or power wheelchairs or scooters, and manually-powered mobility aids such as walkers, crutches, and canes, into all areas open to pedestrian use by members of the public.

Emergency Evacuation Preparedness

Provide the overarching framework and expectations guiding the evacuation of campus areas and/or campus buildings, including those for people with disabilities.

Animals on Campus

Maintains campus health, safety, and security standards relative to animals allowed on university property; outlines services for members of the campus community seeking accommodations involving Service Dogs and Emotional Support Animals; and, identifies the distinction between those animals and other animals and pets.

Procedures

For Medical Withdrawals and Retroactive Medical Withdrawals

Information from UHS on the withdrawal and retroactive withdrawal processes.

For Employee Reasonable Accommodations

Provides members of the campus community with information regarding the process for University employees to request workplace accommodations and related considerations, such as privacy of medical information, the role of the ADA Specialist, reassignment, and the medical separation process.

For Provision of Academic Adjustments including Fundamental Alteration

Summarizes key information and practices to support instructors and ensure disabled students can access academic programming on our campus. It also links to other materials that are useful for instructors.

Classroom Access/Room Change Requests Procedure

Supports all students in participating in their courses. Disabled Students' Program provides accessible furniture options, expertise in selecting courses to assure paths of travel between rooms to meet student’s access needs, and procedures for requesting classroom changes and relocations.

Disability Complaint Procedures

The University is committed to ensuring that disabled students, employees and visitors are able to take part in, and benefit from, the whole range of programs, services, and activities offered by the University. The University continues to modify its facilities, programs, policies, or practices, as necessary, to ensure such access is provided.

Alternative Media Guidelines

Provides qualifying students with alternative media (Braille, e-text, audio, large print) upon request. Students may request conversion of required and recommended reading assignments, including course textbooks, course readers, handouts, and bCourse files. Students with alternate media accommodation can ask library staff to scan materials into an alternative format.