The University is committed to ensuring equal access for qualified individuals with disabilities in compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), as amended, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), as well as other applicable state and local laws and University policy.
During Final Exercises, it is the responsibility of the schools and departments to plan for and meet the accessibility needs of graduates, guests, and speakers. This begins with designating an event contact whose responsibilities will include ensuring physical as well as program accessibility and responding to disability-related accommodation requests.
Event contacts should be prepared to address a variety of disability accommodation requests. Individuals with mobility disabilities including those who use wheelchairs will require accessible pathways to entrances, exits, and seating locations. A speaker may need an adjustable height lectern and/or a ramp to access a raised stage or platform. Individuals who are D/deaf or hard of hearing may require American Sign Language (ASL) interpreting services or real-time captioning. Participants who are blind or have low vision may request printed materials in an accessible format. Although each request for accommodation requires an individualized assessment, making accessibility an integral part of your planning process will foster full participation and may reduce the need for individual accommodation requests.
Should you require disability-related accommodations, please send your request to adacoordinator@virginia.edu as early as possible, but no later than April 15, 2017, so that we have ample lead time to arrange for the necessary accommodations. Examples of accommodations may include real-time captioning, ASL-English interpreting services, accessible digital copies of programs, accessible seating, and accessible parking. Please include the following information in your request:
- Full Name:
- Contact Information:
- Degree Candidate:
- Name:
- School/Department/Major:
- Date and Location of the Event:
- Accommodation requested:
Accommodation requests received at adacoordinator@virginia.edu will be forwarded to school and department contacts to be addressed. The University ADA Coordinator will be available to provide assistance and guidance regarding accommodation request. However, schools and departments are responsible for responding to requests as well as arranging and funding disability-related accommodations.
Schools and departments holding events at John Paul Jones Arena (JPJ) should provide real-time captioning regardless of whether or not the service is requested. Please contact Alexandra Reisinger, ar3hx@virginia.edu for assistance with the coordination of captioning services at JPJ. Other accommodation requests may be addressed on an individual basis.
The following resources are available to assist you with disability accommodation related inquiries:
- For general questions about accessibility and disability related accommodation requests – Melvin Mallory, ADA Coordinator, mm6b@virginia.edu
- For questions regarding ASL Interpreting Services and Real-time Captioning Services – Barbara Zunder, Director, Student Disability Access Center, bz4e@virginia.edu
- Questions about accessible parking and transportation should be directed to Parking and Transportation Services at Caroline Welch, ptevents@virginia.edu