Tag Archives: OCR

OCR Provides Practical Pointers for Postsecondary Institutions to Meet Civil Rights Obligations In Distance Learning Environments

May 13, 2020Generalaccessibility, Accommodation, ada, Department of Education, disability, Distance Education, distance learning, Edward Cramp, FAQ, guidance, Harassment, OCR, Office for Civil Rights, Title IXBryce Young

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights recently issued a FAQ in its continuing effort to address civil rights issues during the COVID-19 pandemic. The new guidance focused on disability accommodations, Title IX, and harassment issues.

The overall message was to again remind postsecondary institutions to “stay the course” with their civil rights obligations. Institutions must continue to engage in the interactive process and provide disability accommodations that do not fundamentally alter the academic program and/or are undue burdens. Institutions must also continue to receive, investigate, and resolve harassment complaints. Institutions should adapt their policies to the new distance learning environment, and, if they do, they must inform students, faculty, and staff of any changes.

OCR also offered practical advice for how institutions can meet their civil rights obligations (and take advantage of new technology in doing so): Continue reading OCR Provides Practical Pointers for Postsecondary Institutions to Meet Civil Rights Obligations In Distance Learning Environments →

OCR Guidance on Disability Rights and Distance Learning During the COVID-19 Pandemic

April 14, 2020Generalaccessibility, americans with disabilities act, Bryce Young, civil rights, colleges, Deanna Lucci, Department of Education, Disabilities, disability, Education, K-12, Kenneth Marcus, OCR, Office for Civil Rights, Postsecondary, Randolph Wills, Rehabilitiation Act, section 504, Universities, website accessibility, YouTubeBryce Young

On April 3, 2020, the Office for Civil Rights continued its guidance on how institutions can implement distance learning while complying with federal civil rights laws. This guidance is timely because, as we all know, distance learning due to COVID-19 is redefining how most educational institutions operate. When all levels of academic institutions had to close their doors due to stay-at-home orders, many of them opened the proverbial window by turning to online education. Despite its increasing popularity over the past decade or so, distance learning remains an emerging and potentially scary (as well as exciting) landscape for many institutions as they navigate purchasing/installing new technology, implementing new methods of teaching, and ensuring connectivity with students. OCR’s guidance provides a roadmap to this new territory.

In further response to some institutions declining to use distance learning at all because they were unsure of being able to provide a free and appropriate public education (K-12) or appropriate accommodations (postsecondary) to students with disabilities, OCR reiterated: Continue reading OCR Guidance on Disability Rights and Distance Learning During the COVID-19 Pandemic →

Department of Education Issues Guidance on Safeguarding Civil Rights During COVID-19 Pandemic

March 18, 2020GeneralAccommodation, ada, americans with disabilities act, Bryce Young, Bullying, civil rights, COVID-19, Department of Education, Disabilities, disability coordinator, disability services, Discrimination, Harassment, K-12, mental health, OCR, Office for Civil Rights, pandemic, Postsecondary, section 504, website accessibilityBryce Young

As with all crises, this pandemic is a rapidly evolving situation that is forcing schools to quickly implement new policies and practices, often operating on limited information and without the usual procedural safeguards and vetting. Such an environment creates a risk of the unintended consequences of those new policies/procedures being overlooked, resulting in potentially discriminatory effects to students.

Recognizing this risk, the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights published guidance on March 16, 2020, reminding schools that students’ civil rights must be safeguarded during responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. OCR’s guidance encourages schools to take measures to protect against COVID-19, but to do so in a manner that is free from discrimination and continues to accommodate people with disabilities.

The Department of Education focused on a few key areas as examples of potential pitfalls: Continue reading Department of Education Issues Guidance on Safeguarding Civil Rights During COVID-19 Pandemic →