NC State has added another way for the Wolfpack community to create a more welcoming and inclusive environment in one easy step.

A new modification to the university calendar will now enable every university event to list a person that an individual with a disability can contact to request an accommodation to attend the event.

The modification also brings NC State into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), which requires us to ensure that persons with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as all other members of our campus community. The ADA guarantees equal opportunity for persons with disabilities in public accommodations, employment, transportation, government services and telecommunications.

Beginning on Jan. 19, 2021, you will see a new entry field on the calendar submission form that will generate an accommodations statement that will display in your published event. For the initial rollout period during the spring semester of 2021, the field will not be required when you submit an event; this will allow you to begin incorporating this step into your departmental procedures and become accustomed to assigning a designated person to handle ADA accommodations for every event that you host, including virtual events. The field will become required in the fall of 2021.

New Calendar Entry Field

In this field, you should provide the name, phone number and email address of the person coordinating ADA accommodation requests for your department or office, typically the event coordinator.

New Calendar Display Text

What is an ADA Accommodations Contact Person Responsible For?

It is NC State’s expectation that we host accessible events as the law requires. When planning a university event, best practices include always considering the needs of all attendees, including those with disabilities. It is important to plan for and ensure the accessibility of your event prior to hosting the event. Accessibility needs may include access ramps, modified seating, captioning, sign language interpretation, providing materials in larger fonts, and other assistive measures. When planning an event, we encourage you to incorporate universal design principles and concepts to help create a welcoming and inclusive environment. This proactive approach helps continue to create an inclusive and welcoming university community. 

Please note that NC State is required by law to provide equal access to members of our community who have disabilities. By providing the name and contact information of the event coordinator who can assist with the request within your calendar event listing, you you make it easier for individuals with a disability to request reasonable accommodation and make your event more accessible.

Event coordinators should be prepared to respond to reasonable accommodation requests, as defined by the ADA. One way to prepare to receive the request is to review the Planning an Accessible Event on the Disability Resource Office website.

Training

To learn more about the Americans with Disabilities Act and other diversity, equity and inclusion topics, register for one of our workshops. See Educational Opportunities on the Office for Institutional Equity and Diversity website for more information.

Who Should Event Coordinators Contact with Questions? 

Most requests can be accommodated by the event coordinator; for example, copies of handouts in a larger font, seating closer to the front or the provision of more space. However, others may require coordination with the Disability Resource Office or the Equal Opportunity and Equity (EOE) unit of the Office for Institutional Equity and Diversity. 

You can contact the Office for Institutional Equity and Diversity at equalopportunity@ncsu.edu or the Disability Resource Office at disability@ncsu.edu.

• For additional information, see Accessibility at NC State.