ADA/Section 504
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 were established in order to provide a clear comprehensive national mandate for the elimination of discrimination against individuals with disabilities. The ADA prohibits discrimination solely on the basis of disability in employment, public services, and accommodations. The person must be otherwise qualified for the program, service or job. The ADA requires the provision of reasonable effective accommodations for eligible faculty, staff, students and visitors across WVU at Parkersburg’s programs, activities and services.
Section 504 is the section of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 that specifically created civil rights for individuals with disabilities. Section 504 provides that no qualified individual with a disability should, only by reason of his or her disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.
Policies and Procedures
Answer Book Procedure #VI-4, Services for Students and Visitors with Disabilities
Answer Book Procedure #IV-27, Disability Accommodations for Employees and Job Applicants
Answer Book Procedure #VIII-6, Support for Lactation Needs
Answer Book #VIII-8, Guidelines for the Use of a Service Animal
How to report disability discrimination
If you have been denied reasonable accommodations or experienced discrimination or harassment on the basis of disability at WVU Parkersburg, you may choose either of these reporting options:
ADA Coordinator
The ADA Coordinator will respect the privacy of the information you report and will share it only as necessary with those who “need to know” in order to assist in the assessment, investigation, and/or resolution of the report.
ADA Coordinator: Mary Bentz, Executive Director of Human Resources and Compliance
Email: mary.bentz@wvup.edu
Office: 300 Campus Drive, Parkersburg, WV 26104
Phone: 304-424-8212
Online Report Form
While reports submitted online will receive prompt attention during regular business hours, this mechanism should not be used for emergencies. For emergency services, call 9-1-1 or go to the Campus Police and Security Office located in Room 1122 on the main campus in Parkersburg. Report Harassment or Discrimination.
Anonymous Reports
WVU at Parkersburg will accept anonymous reports; however, the institution may be limited in its ability to address the circumstances reported.
Mandatory Reporters
All employees (faculty and staff) of WVU at Parkersburg are designated as Mandatory Reporters. Therefore, if any member of the campus community reports information to an employee about an incident of discrimination or harassment, the employee will be required to promptly report the information to the ADA Coordinator. (See Policy B-62, Mandatory Reporters.)
External Reporting Options:
Office of Civil Rights
U.S. Department of Education
The Wanamaker Building
100 Penn Square East, Suite 515
Philadelphia, PA 19107-3323
Telephone: 215-656-8541
FAX: 215-656-8605; TDD: 877-521-2172
Email: OCR_Philadelphia@ed.gov
Website: U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights
The West Virginia Human Rights Commission
1321 Plaza East – Room 108A
Charleston, WV 25301
Telephone: 304-558-2616
Toll Free: 888-676-5546
Facsimile: 304-558-0085
Website: West Virginia Human Rights Commission
For complaints involving employees:
United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
801 Market Street, Suite 1300
Philadelphia, PA 19107-3127
Telephone: 866-408-8075
Fax: 215-440-2606
TTY: 800-669-6820
Website: U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission