DEFINITIONS
ACCESSIBLE - Refers to any facility complying with the specific design requirements which provide approach and entry of a facility by handicappers (e.g. grade level entry).
ACCESSIBLE PROGRAM - Refers to a program when examined as a whole; or when viewed in its entirety, is available and accessible to handicappers. Enough parts of the program must be accessible to ensure equal opportunity for handicappers who may wish to participate.
ACCOMMODATING - Refers to any facility that goes beyond compliance with the specific design requirements which provide approach and entry and incorporates internal useability by handicappers, that is, a facility which includes elevator modifications or a new elevator if programmatically necessary, accessible toilet rooms minimally at one location in the building, accessible drinking fountains on each floor, multi-model fire alarms in main corridors. ADA compliant signage, and campus and/or public telephone(s) that are conveniently available to handicappers.
USER-FRIENDLY- Refers to a facility exceeding specific design or technical requirements with regard to interior circulation, manipulation, or use by handicappers (e.g. lever door hardware, hold- open devices on fire doors).
FACILITY - This term is defined as "all or any portion of buildings, equipment, roads, walks, passageways, parking lots or other real or personal property or interest in such property." For purposes of the present document, any element of the built environment that houses a program or activity.
PROGRAM - This term is defined as "all or any portion of buildings, equipment, roads, walks, passageways, parking lots, or other real or personal property or interest in such property. "For purposes of the present document, any element of the built environment that houses a program or activity.
VIEWED IN ENTIRETY - Refers to overall program accessibility. A program must be readily accessible, when examined as a whole. This means that even though all portions of the program may not be accessible, enough parts are readily accessible in the most integrated setting appropriate to the handicapper's needs to ensure equal opportunity for all who may wish to participate. For example, if the University offers two sections of Spanish 101, one section should be located in an accessible and accommodating facility would make the program accessible to handicappers when viewed in its entirety, program accessibility may be achieved by relocating activities or services, providing auxiliary aids and services, or modifying policies to ensure programs that are readily and equitably available.
CIVIL (LEGAL) DEFINITIONS
DISABLED: Disqualified, permanently or temporarily unable to compete, ie employment, due to a complete absence of qualifications or ability: dependent. Beyond help through, or not yet participating in, habilitation/rehabilitation. Antonym: REHABILITATED.
HANDICAPPED: Qualifiable, not fully competitive in a specific activity or field. Contributing but not self-sustaining, due to limited qualifications or ability. One who may or may not benefit from, or one who is in the process of habilitation/rehabilitation.
HANDICAPPER: Qualified, competent, independent, due to full competitive, alternate, or compensating, qualifications or ability. Successfully and fully habilitated/rehabilitated though not cured. ANTONYM: DISABLED
HABILITATE: To enable. To stake one to, or furnish one with the necessities for starting, a business or career.
REHABILITATE: To restore to a former capacity, especially economic: reinstate: to restore a disabled person to a condition of health or useful and constructive activity: to requalify, re- train, to nullify a disability by developing other or compensating abilities. Antonym: DISABLED
| MEDICAL | CIVIL | |
|---|---|---|
| Disability | A physical or mental dysfunction | A legal or occupational disqualification. |
| Disabled | Deprived of physical or mental dysfunction. | Deprived of legal right, qualification. |
In general 'disabled', 'handicapped', and 'handicapper' are not interchangeable. Neither are the medical and civil-definitions of terms. Generally, in their proper context, civil terms, in the age of civil rights, are preferable.
To illustrate: A medical 'disability' more often than not, is not a civil disability as a single bodily dysfunction rarely renders one totally unemployable. Hence the inaccuracy of referring to such a person as 'disabled' or as a "person with a disability."
Appendices Table of Contents
Appendix B
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