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SAS Mission

In an effort to promote a student life experience that is second to none, Student Accessibility Services aims to cultivate self-advocacy, develop an accessible campus culture, and foster meaningful connections between students and the university community through the offering of reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the facilitation of meaningful learning experiences.

University Responsibility

Under the provisions of Section 4504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act, institutions of higher learning must provide reasonable accommodations that afford equal educational opportunities for students with disabilities. Section 504 states that “…No otherwise qualified person with a disability in the United States…shall, solely by reason of…disability, be denied the benefits of, be excluded from participation in, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.”

Under the Provisions of Section 504, The University of Southern Mississippi…may not discriminate in the recruitment, admission, educational process, or treatment of students. Students who have self-identified, provided documentation of disability, and requested reasonable accommodations related to their specific disability are entitled to receive the following: information in accessible formats upon request, approved modifications of programs, appropriate academic adjustments or auxiliary aids that enable them to participate in and benefit from all educational programs and activities in the most integrated and appropriate settings. Section 504 does not compel educational institutions to disregard the disabilities of individuals or to make substantial modifications in programs to allow individuals with disabilities to participate. Academic requirements that are essential to the program of instruction being pursued by a student or any directly related licensing requirements are not regarded as discriminatory, even if they have an adverse effect on individuals with disabilities. Thus, academic requirements may not serve as barriers to equal opportunity, unless they are deemed essential or fundamental to a course, degree program, or licensing process.

According to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act, institutions should make reasonable accommodations so that no student with a disability is denied the benefits or excluded from participation in, or otherwise subjected to discrimination under any of its education programs or activities because of an absence of educational auxiliary aids. Auxiliary aids include, but are not limited to typed texts, lecture notes, audio/video captioning, interpreters, readers and alternative formats.

Accommodations vs Accessibility

The main goal of Student Accessibility Services (SAS) is to offer eligible students suitable and reasonable accommodations under the guidelines of the ADA. However, the office also actively endeavors to foster accessibility throughout all university programs. Accessibility entails the creation of an inclusive and barrier-free environment for a wide range of individuals, while accommodations are personalized measures aimed at enabling those with disabilities to engage fully in diverse activities and environments. Both accessibility and accommodations play vital roles in advancing equality and inclusivity for individuals with disabilities. SAS collaborates with numerous schools, departments, and organizations to promote a culture of accessibility and inclusivity at Southern Miss.