School District of Winter
Bylaws & Policies
 

2260.01 - SECTION 504/ADA PROHIBITION AGAINST DISCRIMINATION BASED ON DISABILITY

Pursuant to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 ("Section 504"), the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended ("ADA"), and the implementing regulations (collectively "Section 504"/ADA), no otherwise qualified individual with a disability shall, solely by reason of his/her disability, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance. The Board of Education does not discriminate in admission or access to, or participation in, or treatment, in its programs or activities. As such, the Board's policies and practices will not discriminate against students with disabilities, and will make accessible to qualified individuals with disabilities its facilities, programs, and activities. No discrimination will be knowingly permitted against any individual with a disability on the sole basis of that disability in any of the programs, activities, policies, and/or practices in the District.

An individual with a disability" means a person who has, has a record of, or is regarded as having, a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. Major life activities are functions such as caring for one's self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, eating, sleeping, standing, lifting, bending, speaking, breathing, learning, reading, concentrating, thinking, communicating, and working.

Major life activities also include the operation of a major bodily function, including, but not limited to, functions of the immune system, special sense organs and skin, normal cell growth, and digestive, genitourinary, bowel, bladder, neurological, brain, respiratory, circulatory, endocrine, hemic, lymphatic, musculoskeletal and reproductive functions. The operation of a major bodily function includes the operation of an individual organ within a body system.

An impairment that is episodic in nature or in remission is considered a disability if it would substantially limit a major life activity when active.

The determination of whether an impairment substantially limits a major life activity must be made without regard to the ameliorative effects of mitigating measures such as medication, medical supplies, equipment or appliances, low-vision devices (not including ordinary eyeglasses or contact lenses), prosthetics (including limbs and devices), hearing aids and cochlear implants or other implantable hearing devices, mobility devices, oxygen therapy equipment or supplies, assistive technology, reasonable accommodations or auxiliary aids or services, or learned behavioral or adaptive neurological modifications.

With respect to public preschool, elementary and secondary educational services, a qualified person with a disability means a disabled person:

 

A.

who is of an age during which nondisabled persons are provided educational services;

     
 

B.

who is of any age during which it is mandatory under Wisconsin law to provide educational services to disabled persons; or

     
 

C.

to whom the State is required to provide a free appropriate public education pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA).

With respect to vocational education services, a qualified person with a disability means a disabled person who meets the academic and technical standards requisite to admission or participation in the vocational program or activity.

District Compliance Officer

The following persons are designated as the District Section 504 Compliance Officers/ADA Coordinators ("District Compliance Officer"):

 

School Psychologist and District Administrator

 
 

6585 West Grove Street, P.O. Box 310,

 
 

Winter, Wisconsin 54896-0310.

 
 

1-715-266-3301 (Telephone)

 
 

715-266-2216 (Fax)

 

The District Compliance Officers are responsible for coordinating the District's efforts to comply with and fulfill its responsibilities under Section 504 and Title II of the ADA. A copy of Section 504 and the ADA, including copies of their implementing regulations, may be obtained from the District Compliance Officer.

The District Compliance Officers will oversee the investigation of any complaints of discrimination based on disability, which may be filed pursuant to the Board's adopted internal complaint procedure, and will attempt to resolve such complaints.

The Board will provide for the prompt and equitable resolution of complaints alleging violations of Section 504/ADA. The Board will further establish and implement a system of procedural safeguards in accordance with Section 504, including the right to an impartial due process hearing. Finally, students and parents will be advised of their right to request a due process hearing before an Impartial Hearing Officer (IHO) regarding the identification, evaluation or educational placement of persons with disabilities, including the right to participation by the student’s parents and representation of counsel, and their right to examine relevant education records.

Training

The District Compliance Officers will also oversee the training of employees in the District so that all employees understand their rights and responsibilities under Section 504 and the ADA, and are informed of the Board's policies, administrative guidelines and practices with respect to fully implementing and complying with the requirements of Section 504/ADA.

The Board will provide in-service training and consultation to staff responsible for the education of persons with disabilities, as necessary and appropriate.

Facilities

No qualified person with a disability will, because the District's facilities are inaccessible to or unusable by persons with disabilities, be denied the benefits of, be excluded from participation in, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity to which Section 504/ADA applies.

For facilities constructed or altered after June 3, 1977, the District will comply with applicable accessibility standards. For those existing facilities constructed prior to June 3, 1977, the District is committed to operating its programs and activities so that they are readily accessible to persons with disabilities. This includes, but is not limited to, providing accommodations to parents with disabilities who desire access to their child's educational program or meetings pertinent thereto. Programs and activities will be designed and scheduled so that the location and nature of the facility or area will not deny a student with a disability the opportunity to participate on the same basis as students without disabilities.

Education

The Board is committed to identifying, evaluating, and providing a free appropriate public education ("FAPE") to students within its jurisdiction who are disabled within the definition of Section 504, regardless of the nature or severity of their disabilities.

If a student has a physical or mental impairment that significantly limits one or more major life activities, the Board will provide the student with a free appropriate public education ("FAPE"). An appropriate education may include regular or special education and related aids and services to accommodate the unique needs of students with disabilities. For disabled students who are not eligible for specially designed instruction under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act ("IDEIA"), the related aids and services (including accommodations/modifications/interventions) they need in order to have their needs met as adequately as the needs of nondisabled students are met, shall be delineated, along with their placement, in a Section 504 Plan (Form 2260.01A F13). Parents/guardians/custodians ("parents") are invited and encouraged to participate fully in the evaluation process and development of a Section 504 Plan.

The Board is committed to educating (or providing for the education of) each qualified person with a disability who resides within the District with persons who are not disabled to the maximum extent appropriate. Generally, the District will place a person with a disability in the regular educational environment unless it is demonstrated that the education of the person in the regular environment even with the use of supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved satisfactorily. If the District places a person in a setting other than the regular educational environment, it shall take into account the proximity of the alternate setting to the person's home.

The Board will provide non-academic extracurricular services and activities in such a manner as is necessary to afford qualified persons with disabilities an equal opportunity for participation in such services and activities. Nonacademic and extracurricular services and activities may include counseling services, physical recreational athletics, transportation, health services, recreational activities, special interests groups or clubs sponsored by the District, referrals to agencies that provide assistance to persons with disabilities, and employment of students. In providing or arranging for the provision of meals and recess periods, and nonacademic and extracurricular services and activities, including those listed above, the District will verify that persons with disabilities participate with persons without disabilities in such services and activities to the maximum extent appropriate.

Notice

Notice of the Board's policy on nondiscrimination in education practices and the identity of the District's Compliance Officer will be posted throughout the District, and published in the District's recruitment statements or general information publications.

34 C.F.R. Part 104
29 U.S.C. 794, Section 504 Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended
42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq., Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended

Adopted 5/16/11
Revised 1/16/12
Revised 11/16/15

© Neola 2015