This chapter first addresses what a disability is and how to determine whether someone meets the legal definition of a person with a disability. It explains the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws, to help administrators and disability office personnel understand their obligations, including a diagram to guide the decision-making process for determining a student's disability status. Specific examples from the health sciences are provided.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF DISABILITY RIGHTS LAWSSocietal perceptions of disability have shifted over time. The medical model of disability is based on the notion that disabilities are a physical or mental deficiency and that the individual with disabilities should be "fixed" or otherwise conform to society's definition of normal (Finkelstein, 1993). This model
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