Guidelines for Accessibility to Campus-sponsored Events

Consistent with the requirements of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act, Southern Connecticut State University is firmly committed to ensuring that persons with disabilities, including students, faculty, staff, and the general public, have access to University-sponsored meetings, seminars, workshops, conferences, programs, and activities on or off campus. All registration materials and fliers announcing events should state that the event is accessible to persons with disabilities. It is suggested that you ask participants to request accommodations or to identify their needs well in advance of the event, so that you can arrange for services to meet their needs. If no request has been made, you are not required to provide disability-related accommodations (e.g., if no advance request is received for accessible transportation or a sign-language interpreter, you do not have to provide this service). You must, however, provide physical access to your event or activity, ensuring that individuals with mobility impairments can attend. The authorized representative of the sponsoring organization or department shall be responsible for implementing this policy and arranging for other requested accommodations.

The Disability Resource Center will coordinate the provision of sign language interpreters. To ensure the availability of interpreters, you must contact the DRC at (203) 392-6828 no less than two weeks in advance of your event.

All registration materials and program notices shall provide space for registrants to indicate whether they have disability-related needs and require reasonable accommodation as well as the name and phone number of the contact person for your organization.

Sample of the kind of notice that should be placed on every flyer:

A sponsored event: This event is wheelchair accessible. Individuals needing sign-language interpreters, large print, or Braille material or any other accommodation should contact (the contact person for your organization and phone number) as early as possible.

A sponsored trip: To arrange for accessible transportation, please contact (the contact person for your organization and phone number) as early as possible.

Questions concerning the university's policy should be directed to:

Mrs. Marcia L. Smith Glasper

Assistant to the President for Diversity and Equity Programs
Schwartz Hall room 100
Telephone: (203) 392-5899
(TDD service available)