HB 509

Abstract

State Council of Higher Education for Virginia; public institutions of higher education; policies for establishing eligibility for accommodations; report. Requires the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, in consultation with representatives of public institutions of higher education, disability advocacy organizations, students enrolled at public institutions of higher education, higher education disability accommodation professionals, and a subject matter expert, to (i) study the processes by which each public institution of higher education in the Commonwealth determines the eligibility for accommodations of an admitted or enrolled student with a temporary or permanent disability, (ii) identify in such processes any potential barriers to establishing eligibility, and (iii) make recommendations on reducing any such barriers and on the development and establishment of a uniform accommodations eligibility determination in the Commonwealth. This bill is identical to SB 21.

Public institutions of higher education; policies; individuals with disabilities; documentation or evidence. Requires each public institution of higher education to adopt a policy that makes certain documentation or evidence enumerated in the bill that is submitted by an enrolled or admitted student sufficient to establish that the student is an individual with a disability. The bill requires each such policy to include a transparent and explicit process by which the institution determines eligibility for accommodations for an individual with a disability and requires each such institution to disseminate information about such process to students, including all new students to the parents of students as appropriate, and to faculty in accessible formats and make such information available in a conspicuous and publicly accessible manner, including on the institution's website.

Public institutions of higher education; policies; individuals with disabilities. Requires each public institutionof higher education to adopt a policy that makes certain documentationor evidence enumerated in the bill that is submitted by an enrolled or admitted student sufficient to establish that the student is anindividual with a disability. The bill requires each such policyto include a transparent and explicit process by which the institutiondetermines eligibility for accommodations for an individual witha disability and requires each such institution to disseminate informationabout such process to students, the parents of students as appropriate,and faculty in accessible formats, including during any student orientation,and make such information available on a conspicuous and publiclyaccessible page on the institution's website.