In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Rock Valley College maintains this policy statement:

“No person shall, on the basis of handicap, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity by Rock Valley College.”

The Rehabilitation Act

Title V. of The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is generally regarded as the first civil rights legislation on the national level for people with disabilities. Section 504 of The Rehabilitation Act is a program access statute that prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in any program or activity offered by an entity or institution receiving federal funds.

Section 504 states (as amended):

No otherwise qualified person with a disability in the United States…shall, solely on the basis of disability, be denied access to, or the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity provided by any institution receiving federal financial assistance.

The Americans with Disability Act (ADA)

The ADA is a federal civil rights statute that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities. The ADA provides additional protection for persons with disabilities in conjunction with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The ADA is designed to remove barriers, which prevent qualified individuals with disabilities from enjoying the same opportunities that are available to person without disabilities.

Postsecondary institutions are covered in many ways under the ADA. Employment is addressed by Title I, accessibility provided by public and Title II and III address private entities, and miscellaneous items are addressed under Title V and Title IV.

The ADA in Relation to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
Institutions that receive federal funds are covered under Section 504. The ADA does not supplant Section 504, but those situations where the ADA provides greater protection the ADA standards apply. Therefore, postsecondary institutions must adhere to both the Rehabilitation Act and The Americans with Disability Act.