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Students with Mobility ImpairmentsA mobility or motor impairment is the partial or total loss of function of a body part, usually a limb or limbs. This may result in muscle weakness, poor stamina, lack of muscle control, or total paralysis. In the University environment, some motor impairments necessitate adaptations to allow students to function successfully in class. Most classroom buildings at Penn State's University Park Campus are wheelchair accessible. However, if a class is scheduled for an inaccessible location, we will try to relocate the class to an accessible room. If this is impossible, perhaps due to necessary classroom equipment, we will plan structural changes to permit accessibility. Penn State has an ongoing program of building modifications and physical barrier removal to improve campus accessibility. There are a variety of mobility impairments that may affect a student's academic functioning while in college. Depending on the severity and functional limitations caused by the impairment, the student may be eligible for services through the Office for Disability Services, ODS. In order for a mobility impairment to be considered a disability, the student must demonstrate through documentation that their condition meets the definition of a disability under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 1990. According to these laws, the definition of a disability is a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. ODS requires specific information from both the student and the student's provider to determine if the student's condition is considered a disability under these laws and if the student is eligible to receive academic adjustments, auxiliary aids and/or services. Students requesting services for a mobility impairment through ODS should refer to the following links in this web site:
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