Disability Rights in Higher Education: Ensuring Kinesiology Program and Accreditation Standards Do Not Discriminate

The number of students with disabilities pursuing higher education is increasing; therefore, faculty and administrators have a growing need to understand their responsibilities in preventing discrimination against this population (Gamble, 2000). The purpose of this article is to articulate disability legislation mandates and applications to kinesiology personnel and program and accreditation standards. Based on antidiscriminatory statutes, institutions or academic programs must provide academic adjustments to a student with a disability, must give preference to the student's documented adjustment request, must provide accessibility to the program, and must have a grievance procedure for the student. To benefit from these stipulations, a student must self-identify, initiate the adjustment request, and provide documentation of the disability and needed adjustments.