Federal Law

Rights Under Federal Law for Individuals with Disabilities
In September 1973, Congress passed Public Law 93-112, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Section 504 of that law states: No otherwise qualified handicapped individual in the United States ... shall, solely by reason of his (or her) handicap, be excluded from the participation in, be denied benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.

In 1977, the Department of Health, Education and Welfare issued regulations implementing Section 504 in, among many other institutions, private post secondary colleges receiving federal funds. On July 26, 1990, the American with Disabilities Act was signed into law and extends the provisions given individuals with disabilities as provided in the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Mount Holyoke College is subject to this law and to these regulations.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Compliance Committee was originally established primarily with a focus on accessibility to facilities. More recently, the ADA Committee has been reorganized as a staff, faculty and student committee to address issues of compliance, accommodation, and access with a comprehensive institutional approach. Inquiries regarding ADA compliance can be directed to Liz Braun, Associate Dean of the College, who serves as the campus compliance officer, 300 Mary Lyon Hall.