ADA Compliance Factual Summary

A disabled student, majoring in Music, is attending a State University and uses a wheelchair to get to where he needs to go. The campus Music building is a 200-year-old, historical, structure with tall steps and does not have ramps for wheelchairs. The college argues that due to the significance of the historical architecture of the building it would cost over $1 million to add the ramps for the ADA compliance.

Does the college have legal obligation to provide accommodations for disabled individuals regardless of costs?

Legal Concepts

The American Disabilities Act relates to this scenario because the student is a disabled individual and the college is a state owned entity. "ADA Title II requires state and local governments give people with disabilities an equal opportunity to benefit from all their programs, services, and activities (example, public education, employment, transportation,...

The American Disabilities Act requires state and local governmental owned entities to follow specific architectural standards for new construction and alteration of existing structures. They must relocate programs or provide access to inaccessible buildings. The law covers all activities of state and local governments regardless the government entity's size or receipt of funds.
US policy is that all programs, projects, and activities receiving assistance under the Rehabilitation Act be consistent with respect to individual dignity, personal responsibility, self-determination, and pursuit of meaningful careers, respect to privacy, rights, and equal access, inclusion, integration, and full participation, support for involvement if requested, desired, or needed, and support for individual and system advocacy and community involvement.…