Disabilities

Persons with Disabilities Administrative Announcement (pdf) The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 addresses all employers that have fifteen or more employees. For a more specific description of what constitutes an employer, please refer to the Department of Justice website. This Act protects qualified applicants and employees with disabilities from discrimination in hiring, promotion, discharge, pay, job training, fringe benefits, classification, referral and other aspects of employment on the basis of disability. The law also requires that sanctioned employers provide qualified applicants and employees with disabilities with reasonable accommodations that do not impose an undue hardship on the institution.

The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, defines a disabled individual, for the purpose of this Act, as any person who (1) has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of such person's major life activities, (2) has a record of such impairment, or (3) is regarded as having such an impairment.  A disabled individual is "substantially limited" if he or she is likely to experience difficulty in securing, retaining, or advancing in employment because of a disability.

It is important for both the employer and the employee to understand that if an employee's disability is not apparent by just looking at the employee, the employer cannot assume that the employee does not have a disability.  The employee needs to self-disclose his/her disability to the employer.  Once an employee has self-disclosed to the employer, this information must be kept confidential by law. 

There are two ways that a current employee may self-disclose his/her disability to the University:

1.  If you are eligible for the Equal Opportunity and Outreach Program, contact Mrs. Oneida D. Blagg, Director of Equal Opportunity and Outreach.  Equal Opportunity and Outreach is located in the basement of Cumnock Hall, UML North.  The telephone number is (978) 934-3565  or you may email the department. 

2.  Students may contact Counseling Services, McGauvran Student Union Building, phone:  978-934-4331 or Dr. Chandrika Sharma, Coordinator of Disability Services, O'Leary Library, first floor, phone number:  978-934-4574

• Full Text of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
• Americans with Disabilities Act Homepage
• Commonwealth of Massachusetts Disability Page

You may contact the following to file a formal complaint at any time:

1. The United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)  
    John F. Kennedy Federal Building
    Boston, MA  02203 
    (800) 669-4000

    TTY: (800) 669-6820

2. The Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD)
    One Ashburton Place

    Sixth Floor, Room 601
    Boston, MA  02108
    (617) 994-6000

    TTY: (617) 994-6196