The Americans with Disabilities Act as Amended and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability and require the University to make reasonable accommodations for those otherwise qualified individuals with a disability who request accommodations. A reasonable accommodation is a modification or adjustment that allows an individual to gain equal access and have equal opportunity to participate in the University’s courses, services, activities, and use of the facilities. The University is not obligated to provide an accommodation that requires a substantial change in the curriculum or alteration of any essential elements or functions of a program.
The University of Pittsburgh has designated Disability Resources and Services (DRS) as the authorized department to determine eligibility for reasonable accommodations on the basis of disability. Students requesting accommodations must do so by registering with DRS in a timely manner. Students shall also be required to provide documentation of their disability that 1) meets the University of Pittsburgh’s established guidelines for documentation of a disability, and 2) demonstrates or documents how their disability functionally impacts their participation in courses, programs, jobs, activities and/or the use of facilities at the University. Accommodations are determined individually and are intended to eliminate institutional barriers for qualified individuals to have equal opportunities for participation. Accommodations do not remove or exclude requirements, rather they allow a student with a disability the same opportunity as their nondisabled peers to fully participate and benefit from programs and services.