What is Considered a Disability Under the Law
A disability is defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (as amended in 2008) as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, such as caring for one’s self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, or working. A student must be otherwise qualified to participate in any academic program at Parkland College; therefore, a student with a disability must be able to meet or exceed any technical, essential, academic, behavioral, and professional standards as set forth by the College or by their program of choice.
Examples of physical or mental impairments may include, but are not limited to:
- Attention deficit disorder
- Mental Health Disorder
- Hearing loss/deafness
- Learning disabilities
- Traumatic brain injury
- Visual impairments/blindness
Conditions NOT considered a disability:
- Obesity (except in unusual instances when it is the result of a medical condition)
- Impairments that do not substantially limit a major life activity
- Pregnancy
- English as a Second Language
- Advanced age (although severe hearing loss and arthritis could be considered a disability).
Grievance ProcedureGrievances may be resolved on an informal or a formal basis. Every attempt will be made to resolve all grievances internally at the point of origin in a timely manner. For information regarding the grievance procedure, please go to the Parkland College
Parkland College Policies and Procedures Manual. A grievance can be filed through the
ADA Grievance Form.
Resolution is best sought through the college; however, the policy and procedures do not prevent a person from filing a complaint with other state or federal agencies such as the Human Rights Commission (state), Department of Justice (federal), or Office for Civil Rights (federal).