The University of Illinois Urbana Champaign is committed to ensuring equal access to educational and employment opportunities for qualified individuals with disabilities, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), as amended, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504 and Section 508), as well as other applicable state and local laws and University policy.
Qualified individuals with disabilities are protected from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, and are entitled to reasonable accommodations, and auxiliary aids and services to ensure their participation in, and enjoyment of all university programs, services, and activities.
ADA Coordinator Office
The ADA Coordinator Office educates the campus community about disability rights and resources; collaborates with students, faculty, and staff to remove access barriers; and supports thoughtful and timely resolution of reasonable accommodation concerns.
How to Request a Reasonable Accommodation at Illinois
Academic Accommodations
Through an interactive process, Disability Resources and Educational Services and the student with a disability will discuss the interaction between the disability and the academic environment in order to determine reasonable academic adjustments and modifications.
After a determination of reasonable adjustments and modifications is made, a DRES Access Specialist will write an individualized Letter of Academic Accommodations which certifies that the student has a disability, cites the circumstances for which accommodations are needed, and describes the accommodations recommended by DRES. Consultation with faculty, staff, and outside professionals regarding essential elements and accommodations will occur in situations that are new, complex, or sensitive.
Faculty will be expected to assist with the provision of accommodations when reasonable and necessary. Faculty are not expected to compromise essential elements of the course or evaluation standards.
For more information about the academic accommodations process, please see Disability Resources and Educational Services.
Employee Accommodations
The Office for Access & Equity facilitates disability, religious, and pregnancy-related accommodations for all university employees including faculty, staff, undergraduate and graduate student employees, as well as job applicants. OAE engages in an interactive process with the employee’s department/unit to identify a reasonable accommodation for each person. Learn more about employee accommodations and the interactive process on Office for Access & Equity website.
Housing Accommodations
If you plan to live in University Housing and need a medical or ADA accommodation, you can request special living accommodations and room assignment considerations. When applying for housing, there is a specific Assignment Considerations link within the Personal Contact & Details section of the online contract where you can provide disability, medical, dietary and/or additional needs information. University Housing has more information about applying for housing accommodations.
Accommodations for Events and Programs
If you are attending a university event and need a disability-related accommodation to participate, please contact the event organizer. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your access needs.
If you are planning an event, Strategic Communications and Marketing has information available to help you plan and host an accessible event.
Resources
Report a Barrier to Access
Illinois is committed to ensuring equal access to information, programs, activities and an inclusive environment for all individuals. The Report a Barrier to Access form is a way to let the ADA Coordinator know about accessibility barriers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Examples include inaccessible websites, videos without captions, a blocked access ramp or accessible parking space, motorized door opener that isn’t working, or an inability to access an event or program.
Concerns about Your Academic Accommodation
If an instructor fails to provide you with a requested accommodation, please contact your Access Specialist at DRES and let them know what occurred. Your Access Specialist can discuss options with you and can follow up with your instructor. If you continue to believe an instructor is not implementing your reasonable accommodations, please contact the ADA Coordinator through the AAIR form.
The purpose of the Academic Accommodation Implementation Review (AAIR) is to provide a means for students, with the assistance of the ADA Coordinator, to promptly address disputes that may arise related to the implementation of academic accommodations and minimize any potential disruption to a student’s access to, or performance in, an academic course or program.
The AAIR process applies to all situations where a student currently enrolled at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has a Letter of Academic Accommodations from DRES setting forth their approved academic accommodations and where that student believes that a faculty member or instructor is failing to properly implement or abide by the terms of the Letter of Academic Accommodations.
Discrimination and Harassment on the Basis of Disability
Report discrimination, harassment, or retaliation on the basis of disability to the Office for Access & Equity. OAE addresses reports in consultation with the ADA Coordinator.
Concerns about Negative Behaviors and Sense of Belonging
Campus Belonging Bias Response is a resource focused on addressing bias incidents that impact the campus community. Through its educational and reporting processes, Campus Belonging encourages understanding of others’ perspectives, identities, and lived experiences. Our processes are designed with the goal of ensuring that the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is an equitable and inclusive community for all.
Maps and Plans
For information about building accessibility, please see the Facility Access Maps.
For information about methods and timetables for removing physical access barriers, please see the university’s ADA Transition Plans.
Additional Questions?
Please reach out to the ADA Coordinator Office.
ADA Coordinator Office
Office of the Vice Chancellor for Access, Civil Rights & Community
614 E. Daniel Street, Suite 303
Champaign, IL 61820
Phone: (217) 300-8670
Email: adacoordinator@illinois.edu