ADA - Section 504 Coordination

The Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008 prevents discrimination against qualified individuals on the basis of disability. Title II ADA requires newly designed and constructed or altered state and local government facilities, public accommodations, and commercial facilities to be readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 applies to employers and organizations that receive financial assistance from any federal department or agency. Section 504 forbids organizations and employers from excluding or denying individuals with disabilities an equal opportunity to receive program benefits and services.

UNF uses a three-pronged approach to handle ADA-504 administration: The ADA Compliance Office, the Disability Resource Center, and the Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity each have important roles as outlined below.

Requesting ADA Accommodation ADA Web Accessibility

If a person with a disability needs to request access to online information or functionality that is currently inaccessible as an ADA accommodation, please contact the Director of ADA Compliance Office at (904) 620-2870.

ADA Web Accessibility Complaints

Any person desiring to file a complaint of discrimination on the basis of disability, including ADA accessibility issues, or any other basis protected by law, ordinance, or university regulation or policy, may contact the Director, Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity as designated by the University president. The Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity, University of North Florida, is located at J. J. Daniel Hall, Suite 1201, 1 UNF Drive, Jacksonville, Florida 32224-7699, or call (904) 620-2507 Voice & TDD and (904) 1004 Fax or via 711 Florida Relay for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing or those with speech impairments and/or limitations.

Reasonable ADA Accommodations for Employees and Applicants

The ADA requires that employers provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities who are either employees or applicants for employment, except when such accommodation would cause an undue hardship. An ADA accommodation is any change in the work environment, or in the way things are customarily done, that enables an individual with a disability related to a medical condition to enjoy equal employment opportunities. A reasonable accommodation will allow an employee to do his or her job despite having a disability. Employees and applicants may call to make arrangement to talk to the Director of ADA compliance should they have any questions about accommodations or the interactive process.

Employees seeking ADA accommodations must submit medical documentation and when applicable a position description to the Director of ADA Compliance. All the information provided by the individual is confidential. The Director will begin the interactive process with the employee to determine the limitations created by the disability. Then the Director will determine whether or not the employee can perform the essential functions of the position with or without a reasonable accommodation. The University may deny a reasonable accommodation that creates an undue hardship or creates a direct threat to the individual.

General ADA Inquires

If you have any questions about disabilities, accommodations, work place barriers, physical barriers, ADA training, web accessibility, grievances or simply want an opportunity to chat with the Director of ADA Compliance, please don’t hesitate to contact the ADA Compliance Office. We are always ready to assist you.

Note: Reasonable Accommodations for Events

ADA Accommodations for UNF events are provided by the coordinator of that specific event; please contact your event's coordinator if ADA Accommodations are needed.

American Disability Act (ADA) Compliance Office Contact

1 UNF Drive,

Building 6,

Room 1314

Jacksonville, FL 32224

Phone: (904) 620-2870

Fax: (904) 620-2585

ADA Compliance Webpage

DRC Accommodations and Valuable Opportunities for Current and Prospective UNF Students with Disabilities and Veterans

Current and Prospective Student Accommodations

The Disability Resource Center (DRC) provides reasonable accommodations to current and prospective students with disabilities. Reasonable accommodations are modifications or adjustments to the tasks, environments or to the way things are usually done that enable individuals with disability equal opportunity to participate in an academic program. Broad categories of accommodations include changes to the application process to ensure an equal opportunity to apply for program enrollment, changes that enable a student with a disability to perform the essential functions of the academic program, and changes that enable a student with a disability to enjoy equal benefits and privileges of the program. Reasonable accommodations will be provided unless to do so would fundamentally alter the nature of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, and advantages offered by UNF. An ADA accommodation may be denied if it results lead to an undue financial or administrative burden on the institution. Students may call to make arrangement to speak to a member of the DRC should they have any questions about accommodations or the interactive process.

The type of reasonable accommodations the university can provide depends on the individual needs of a student with a disability. The student is advised to disclose the disability, provide the appropriate documentation to the DRC and request a reasonable accommodation. It is the responsibility of students who seeks disability-related accommodations and services to provide written documentation of their disabilities. Documentation provided to the DRC will be kept confidential. The DRC staff will determine whether the student is eligible for services and if so, coordinate appropriate accommodations and services based on the documentation provided in addition to consultation with the student and other professionals, as appropriate.

DRC Accommodation Process

Providing accommodations based on disability does not compromise the essential elements of a course or curriculum; nor does it weaken the academic standards or integrity of a course. Accommodations simply provide an alternative way to accomplish the course requirements by eliminating or reducing disability-related barriers. Reasonable accommodations provide a level playing field, not an unfair advantage. The DRC staff look forward to meeting current and prospective students seeking reasonable ADA accommodations, please contact our office.

Student Scholarships

DRC staff can also provide you with information about scholarships for students with disabilities. Please ask for information about the Johnson Scholarship, Slade Scholarship, and other disability-related scholarships.

Career Opportunities

UNF students who are registered with the DRC are eligible to apply for a variety of job-shadowing and internship sites. DRC staff members collaborate with professionals from Career Services to offer these exciting opportunities. Contact the DRC for more information.

Additional Assistance for Military and Veterans

The Military and Veterans Resource Center (MVRC) provides assistance to military and veteran students in navigating admission, enrollment and financial aid processes. Led by the Director, the Military & Veterans Resource Center is the primary campus advocate for military and veteran students. MVRC works with students to ensure their unique needs are met by coordinating with offices of various university services.

The MVRC is committed to ensuring that military and veteran students successfully make the transition from the military environment to campus life, and are assisted in their progress toward completing their academic degree. The Center also provides opportunities for peer to peer support, mentoring and social networking. We welcome volunteers from the veteran student community to work with their fellow veterans as mentors to assist them in achieving a successful academic experience.

Disability Resource Center (DRC)Office Contact

1 UNF Drive

College of Education & Human Services, Building 57

Room 1500

Jacksonville, FL 32224

Phone: (904) 620-2769

Fax: (904) 620-3874

DRC Webpage

How to Register with the DRC through Clockwork

Veteran's Affairs Office Contact

1 UNF Drive

Military & Veterans Resource Center,

Founders Hall Building 2, Suite 1100

Jacksonville FL 32224

Phone: (904) 620-5131

Fax: (904) 620-5900

Email: mvrc@unf.edu

Veteran's Affairs Office Webpage

Non-Discrimination, Equal Opportunity and Diversity Complaint and Investigation Procedure

As part of UNF’s collaborative ADA-504 coordination, the Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity (EOD) investigates allegations of discrimination by students, faculty and staff and others who interact in the University community.

The University has established guidelines and procedure to address complaints of discrimination, discriminatory harassment, retaliation, and sexual misconduct in violation of the University's Non-Discrimination, Equal Opportunity and Diversity Regulation and its Sexual Misconduct Regulation. It is charged with ensuring compliance with federal, state and local law and enabling the University to address circumstances that may conflict with its commitment to provide an inclusive and welcoming environment for all students, faculty, staff, visitors, vendors, and applicants or other individuals who interact in our University community. All individuals may use the Intake Form to file a complaint, or to review matters of concern.

Equal Opportunity and Diversity Contact

1 UNF Drive

J.J. Daniel Hall, Building 1, Suite 1201

Jacksonville, FL 32224

Phone: (904) 620-2507

Fax: (904) 620-1004

Email: eod@unf.edu

EOD webpage