The University of Wisconsin, Madison is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive campus experience for all members of the campus community. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, 1973 and Americans with Disabilities Act, 1990 (ADA) provide that no qualified individual with a disability be denied access to or participation in services, programs, and activities at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
These acts, as well as Wisconsin state law and UW System and UW-Madison policy, apply to virtually all aspects of campus activities, including employment, student programming, and services provided to the community at large.
UW-Madison has a rich history in providing access to individuals with disabilities, dating back to the arrival of WWII veterans attending campus on the GI Bill. The campus has a network of programs that address accessibility and accommodations for students, employees and visitors. To learn more about our campus’s history, view the McBurney Foundations Modules.
Laws, Policies, Procedures, and Guidance
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UW-Madison
Employment Policies
- Academic Staff Disability Accommodation Policy
- Faculty Reasonable Accommodation Policy and Procedures
- Reassignment as an Accommodation Policy
- University/Classified Staff Disability Accommodation Policy
General Campus Policies
- Accessible Parking Policy
- Requesting Extraordinary Accommodations to the General Education Communications and Quantitative Reasoning Requirements
- UW–Madison Service Animal Policy
- UW-Madison Emotional Support Animal Policy
- UW-Madison University Housing Emotional Support Animal Policy
- Digital Accessibility Policy
Faculty Legislation and Guidance Documents Regarding Students with Disabilities
- Alternative Assessment for Students with Disabilities – Faculty Document 1143
- Access for Students with Disabilities
- Requesting Extraordinary Accommodations to the General Education Communications and Quantitative Reasoning Requirements
Student Policies
University of Wisconsin System
Regent Document Policy 14-10 (formerly Regent Policy Document 96-6) Nondiscrimination on Basis of Disability
State of Wisconsin
Federal
Resources
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UW-Madison
ACCESSIBLE EVENT PLANNING AND OTHER RESOURCES
Creating accessible university and university-sponsored events are vital to UW-Madison’s mission and is an important, shared commitment of all members of the UW-Madison community. Use the following guides to design an accessible event, respond to accommodation requests, or handle assistance and services animals:
- NEW! – Guide to Assistance and Service Animals
- Guide to Planning an Accessible Hybrid Event
- Guide to Planning an Accessible VIRTUAL Event
- Guide to Planning an Accessible Event
- Guide to Accessible Tagline Statements for Event Announcements
- Guide to Handling an Accommodation Request
- Guide to Obtaining Sign Language Interpreting, Real-Time Captioning, or Media Captioning
Disability Accommodation
McBurney Disability Resource Center
The McBurney Disability Resource Center is the primary campus resource to provide and coordinate accommodations for UW students with disabilities. McBurney works with students with physical, learning, hearing, vision, psychological, health and other disabilities substantially affecting a major life activity (e.g., walking, communicating, learning, seeing, breathing, reading, etc.). Many students have non-apparent disabilities such as depression, anxiety, autism spectrum disorders, learning disabilities, AD/HD and health impairments such as Crohn’s disease or fibromyalgia.
Learn more about services for prospective and enrolled students with disabilities and resources for faculty and instructional staff or contact the Center at:
Voice: (608) 263-2741, Text: (608) 225-7956, mcburney@studentlife.wisc.eduStudents who are also UW-Madison employees (e.g. student hourly, work study, teaching assistant) can request employee accommodations through the department in which they are employed.
Division of Diversity, Equity, and Educational Achievement
DDEA and a network of Divisional Disability Representatives coordinate and arrange accommodations for employees with disabilities. Learn more about UW-Madison’s commitment to providing reasonable accommodations in the work place at:
Barbara Lanser, (608) 263-2407, barbara.lanser@wisc.eduFacilities Planing and Management
The Division of Facilities, Planning and Management addresses physical accessibility needs for the campus community. Information about accessible transportation and disabled parking, building access and accessible routes, accessibility of existing and new construction, snow removal services, the campus map and more can be found at UW-Madison Campus Accessibility Information or by contacting:
Top Tantivivat, (608) 263-3021, top.tantivivat@wisc.eduCenter for User Experience
The Center for User Experience works with partners across the university to design a more accessible, usable digital campus. They are committed to helping you understand and take informed action on the needs of users. Check out Make it Accessible or get in touch with the Center through this Contact Form.
Academic Research
Disabilities Studies Initiative
The Disability Studies Initiative is home to a number of the university’s research and teaching activities in the field of disability.
Waisman Center
Waisman Center is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge about human development, developmental disabilities, and neurodegenerative diseases.
Library
Library Services related to research assistance, accessing print or online materials, and assistive technologies, visit the libraries’ disability and accessibility resources page.
Recreation
Athletics Guest Services provides a variety of services to make Game Day accessible to every Badger fan. See the Facility Accessibility Guide for details on accessibility at the Kohl Center and Camp Randall.
Department of Kinesiology offers the Adaptive Fitness and Personal Training class designed for students with permanent as well as temporary disabilities looking to improve fitness and develop a healthy or healthier lifestyle.
Hoofers Accessible Sailing Club offers sailing instruction that stresses safety and fun and can be modified in numerous ways to fit individual needs.
Rec Sports offers Badgers Adapt, an event that gives athletes of all abilities an opportunity to participate in adaptive and Paralympic sports, events and activities.
City of Madison
Access to Independence provides resources, services, and advocacy for people with any type of disability, and of any age.
City of Madison Commission on People with Disabilities recommends policy to the Mayor, Common Council and Department of Civil Rights in all areas that affect people with disabilities and their families.
Disability Pride Madison is a lively community of people with various abilities, identities and beliefs, who share a passion for promoting disability pride.
Disability Rights Wisconsin is a private non-profit organization designated by the Governor of Wisconsin to ensure the rights of all state citizens with disabilities through individual advocacy and system change.
Family Support and Resource Center assists children and youth with disabilities in Dane County to live at home with their families as valued and participating members of the community.
State of Wisconsin
Wisconsin Department of Health Services Index of Disability Programs
National
ADA National Network provides information, guidance and training on how to implement the Americans with Disabilities Act in order to support the mission of the ADA to “assure equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for individuals with disabilities.”
Association on Higher Education and Disability is a professional membership organization for individuals involved in the development of educational policy and in the provision of quality services to meet the needs of students with disabilities involved in all areas of higher education.
ADA.gov is the federal website dedicated to information, materials, and resources about the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Great Lakes ADA Center is a member of the ADA National Network funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), a division of the U.S. Department of Education. The Center provides information, materials, technical assistance and training on the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The National Center for College Students with Disabilities Clearinghouse is supported by a federal grant and provides technical assistance and information to anyone needing information about disability and higher education, including college students.
The Office for Civil Rights through the U.S. Department of Education ensures equal access to education and promotes educational excellence throughout the nation through vigorous enforcement of civil rights.
