Disability Definitions and Commonly Used Terms

Disability: Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a person with a disability is someone 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. Examples of major life activities include but are not limited to: breathing, walking, talking, hearing, seeing, sleeping, caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, working, concentrating, learning, reading, writing, and major bodily functions.
Substantially limits: A significant limitation or limitations to the condition, manner, or duration of a major life activity or activities as compared to the condition, manner, or duration of the performance of that major life activity or activities by a person without a disability.
Qualified student with a disability: A person with a disability who meets the University standards of behavior (e.g. Code of Conduct) and academic achievement (e.g. GPA and program requirements) and who, with or without reasonable accommodations, can meet all the essential requirements of the University and program(s) in which they participate.
Accessibility: The practice of providing proactive and meaningful access to information, activities, and/or environments in a way that is inclusive, equitable, and usable for as many people as possible, including people with disabilities.
Accommodations: A modification or change considered on request to an individual with a disability that will allow them to fully participate in an environment/program. “Accommodations” is a term that encompasses academic adjustments, auxiliary aids/services, and/or reasonable modifications.
Academic adjustments: Adjustments in how students participate in or complete academic courses and programs. An academic adjustment assists students in meeting an essential requirement or standard, but does not modify the requirement or standard. For example, a student may be provided extended time on a test to allow them to show their knowledge and skills adequately, lessening the impact of their disability on their grade.
Auxiliary aids/services: A term that ensures effective communication and access to information, including sign language interpreters, notetakers, class recordings, real-time captioning, closed captioning, alternate formats, accessible technology, and accessible webpages. For example, a student may be provided the ability to record their classes so that even if they are unable to keep up with taking notes in class, they can refer to the recording and make sure they did not miss any information.
Reasonable modifications: Modifications to policies, practices, or procedures when necessary to avoid discrimination based on disability. For example, modifying the graduation requirement to take show proficiency in a World Language by allowing a student with significant challenges in learning languages to take a substitution course about world cultures and/or take their World Language class(es) pass/fail so that their GPA is not affected by their performance in the class.
Fundamental alteration: An accommodation that is considered to make significant changes to the essential requirements of a course or program, thereby changing the essential learning outcomes and/or components of the course or program. For example, a Department of Education major requesting a waiver for the program’s student teaching requirement.

**Adapted from “Disability Definitions” from Appalachian State University’s Office of Access and Equity: Disability Resources.