Access Policy

This policy will guide the Housing and Dining Services department in providing access for the disabled to its programs, services and activities, in compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act.

The department has long recognized and met its obligation to accommodate the special needs of disabled students. To that end, the department has adopted a practice of accommodating the residential, dining, recreational and programing needs of individual residents with disabilities, as those needs arise.

Ohio University assures equitable access to education for persons with disabilities. Accommodations are determined on an individual basis For more information about disability services, please visit the Office for Institutional Equity's website at www.ohio.edu/equity/disabilityservices/.

Accommodations Within Facilities

Residence Halls and Apartments

Most disabilities can be reasonably accommodated with modest and/or temporary modification of existing residential facilities. The department will continue to make such modifications and install special equipment to reasonably accommodate the needs of particular students.

Modifications in residence halls will provide disabled residents with barrier-free access to the essential program elements provided to all residents of the building. This includes a bedroom, bathroom facility and such common areas as lounges, recreation rooms, computer labs etc.

Dining Halls, Recreation and Special Program Areas

As access to these community facilities is considered essential to full participation in the residential program, and as they are, on occasion, rented-out to be used as public accommodations, the department will expedite modifications to ensure universal access to all community program areas on all three greens.

Modifications will be designed to provide barrier free access to all dining areas, laundries, snack bars, recreation areas, computer labs, study areas and meeting rooms that provide service to residents in general.

Alterations and Routine Maintenance

All alterations, anywhere in the Housing and Dining Services system, are designed to be in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG).

In addition, the Building Maintenance Department shall review its maintenance procedures and purchasing practices to ensure that all replacement parts and fixtures purchased or installed in Housing and Dining Services facilities are in compliance with ADAAG.

Substantial Renovations

As residence halls and apartments are substantially renovated, Ohio University will comply with the ADA accessibility requirements for new construction, where such modifications are technically feasible and do not result in an undue financial or administrative burden.

It is the University's intent to incrementally develop a range of residential options for the disabled. No less than the ADA-required number of disabled bedrooms/bathrooms will be developed in each residence hall as it is renovated.

The University will develop a detailed plan for the renovation of each residence hall, including provisions for all work necessary to comply with ADA accessibility requirements.

Substantial renovations will be undertaken as funding and program constraints permit.