/Office Of Equity & Access
Accessibility & Accommodations

OEA Definitions

Accessibility Definitions

Refers to alternatives to standard print. Information presented in an accessible format (examples: electronic, audio, large print, or Braille).

Any item, piece of equipment, or system, whether acquired commercially, modified, or customized, that is commonly used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities.

Web and electronic resources are accessible (or readily usable) with or without the use of assistive technology.

The information is presented electronically. Digital Content includes but is not limited to: Documents, images, audio, and video material.

A physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. Disabilities may be permanent, episodic, or temporary in nature.

During the interactive process, OEA, the employee, the healthcare provider (if related to disability), and the supervisor engage in a discussion related to the workplace barrier identified. The primary objective is to assess whether the employee requires a reasonable accommodation to carry out their job's essential functions, addressing the workplace barrier. 

Includes but is not limited to: walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, sleeping, limitation of major bodily function, breathing, learning, caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, and working.

Provide access to a building, to the work site, to needed equipment, and to facilities.

A reasonable accommodation is a change to the application process, work or academic environment, or the way things are usually done that allows an otherwise qualified person with a disability to be considered for a position or academic program, to perform the essential functions of a job or academic program or to enjoy equal benefits and privileges of employment or education as are enjoyed by other similarly situated individuals without disabilities and that is effective and does not impose an undue burden on the University.

An undue hardship includes an action or accommodation requiring significant difficulty and expense taking into account the nature and cost of the accommodation, the financial resources of the facility, the number of employees of the facility, the effect the accommodation would have on the facility and the nature of the operations of the employer.