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SUSQUEHANNA TOWNSHIP SCHOOL DISTRICT

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17109

 POLICY

NONDISCRIMINATION ON BASIS OF DISABILITY

Employment: Access to Programs, Services and Activities

Individuals with Disabilities

No qualified individual with a disability shall be subjected to discrimination because of the disability by the School District in regard to job application procedures, the hiring, advancement, or discharge of employees, employee compensation, job training and other terms, conditions and privileges of employment.

No qualified individual with a disability shall, by reason of such disability, be excluded from participation in or be denied the benefits of the services, program, or activities of the School District, or be subjected to discrimination by the School District.

Definition

With regard to employment, a “qualified individual with a disability” is an individual with a disability who, with or without reasonable modifications to rules, policies or practices, the removal of architectural, communication, or transportation barriers, or the provision of auxiliary aids and services or the participation in programs or activities provided by the School District.

Reasonable Accommodation

The School District shall make reasonable accommodations to the known physical or mental limitations of an otherwise qualified individual with a disability who is an applicant or employee, unless the School District can demonstrate that the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of the School District.

Reasonable Modification

The School District shall make reasonable modifications in policies, practices, or procedures when the modifications are necessary to avoid discrimination on the basis of disability, unless the School District can demonstrate that making the modifications would fundamentally alter the nature of the service, program, or activity. 

Communications

The School District shall take appropriate steps to ensure that communications with applicants, participants, and members of the public with disabilities are as effective as communications with others. To this end, the School District shall furnish appropriate auxiliary aids and services where necessary to afford an individual with a disability an equal opportunity to participate in, and enjoy the benefits of, a service, program or activity conducted by the School District. In determining what type of auxiliary aid or service is necessary, the School District shall give primary consideration to the requests of the individual with disabilities.

Auxiliary Aids and Services

“Auxiliary aids and services” includes (1) qualified interpreters, note takers, transcription services, written materials, assisted listening systems, and other effective methods for making aurally delivered materials available to individuals with hearing impairments; (2) qualified readers, taped tests, audio recordings, Brailed materials, large print materials, or other effective methods for making visually delivered materials available to individuals with visual impairments; (3) acquisition or modification of equipment or devices; and (4) other similar services and actions.

Limits of Required Accommodations and Modification

The School District is not required to take any action that it can demonstrate would result in a fundamental alteration in the nature if the service, program, or activity or in undue financial and administrative burdens. Any decision that, in compliance with its responsibility to provide effective communication for individuals with disabilities, would fundamentally alter the service, program or activity or unduly burden the School District shall be made by the Board after considering all resources available for use in funding and operating the program, service, or activity. The decision shall be accompanied by a written statement of the reasons for reaching that conclusion.

Notice

The School District shall make available to applicants, participants, beneficiaries, and other interested persons information regarding the provisions of Title I and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and its applicability to employment, services, programs, or activities of the School District. The information shall be made available in such manner as the Board and Superintendent find necessary to apprise such persons of the protections against discrimination assured them by the ADA.

Compliance Coordinator

The School District shall designate at least one employee to coordinate its efforts to comply with and carry out its responsibilities under Title I and Title II of the ADA, including any investigation of any complaint communicated to it alleging its noncompliance or alleging any actions that would be prohibited under the ADA. The School District shall make available to all interested individuals the name, office address, and telephone number of the employee(s) so designated and shall adopt and publish procedures for the prompt and equitable resolution of complaints alleging any action that would be prohibited under the ADA.

Approved by the School Board – March 22, 1993