FAQs

 

 

What is the definition of disability under the ADA?

 

The ADA defines a person with a disability as a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activity. Under California FEHA a disability is defined as having a physical or mental impairment that “only limits” and not “substantially limits.”

 

This includes people who have a record of such an impairment, even if they do not currently have a disability.  It also includes individuals who do not have a disability but are regarded as having a disability.  The ADA also makes it unlawful to discriminate against a person based on that person’s association with a person with a disability.

 

 

What is a Qualifying Disability?

 

An individual with a disability must also be qualified to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. This means that the applicant or employee must: satisfy the job requirements for educational background, employment experience, skills, licenses, and any other qualification standards that are job related; and be able to perform those tasks that are essential to the job with or without reasonable accommodation.

 

 

What are Essential Job Functions?

 

Essential job functions are the basic job duties that an employee must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation. Each job is carefully examined by reviewing the position description and/or written advertisement of the job to determine which functions or tasks are essential to performance.

 

 

What is Reasonable Accommodation?

 

Reasonable accommodation is any appropriate measure that would allow the applicant or employee with a disability to perform the essential functions of the job.  It can include making facilities accessible to individuals with disabilities or restructuring jobs, modifying work schedules, buying or modifying equipment, modifying examinations and policies, or other accommodations including auxiliary aid.

 

 

How do I Request a Reasonable Accommodation and how long will it take?

 

Contact your immediate supervisor, or call the Total Wellness office at (657) 278-5187 to schedule an appointment to begin the interactive process to discuss and identify appropriate accommodation options. Please make all requests early. This process may take several weeks to complete, depending on how soon we receive your information and the necessary documentation from your physician.

 

 

What is the Interactive Process?

 

The Interactive Process is an on-going communication between the employee with a disability, their supervisor, and the University to arrive at a reasonable accommodation. 

 

 

What is the Interactive Process Meeting?

 

The Interactive process is a meeting or series of meetings between the employer and the applicant or employee with a known disability. The purpose of the meeting is to consult with the individual to ascertain the precise job-related limitations and how they could be overcome with a reasonable accommodation; and identifying potential accommodations and assessing their effectiveness.

 

 

What is “Light Duty”?

 

A “light duty” assignment is a temporary assignment which typically involves: (1) excusing an employee from performing the essential functions (defined as the fundamental duties of the job) of his or her job, or (2) creating a new position, on a temporary basis, for the employee.  Neither of these actions is required by the reasonable accommodation obligation imposed on employers by federal and state disability law. Disability laws only require employers to remove the marginal functions of a position or to transfer an employee to an existing vacant position as reasonable accommodations.

 

 

What is Transitional Return-to-Work?

 

A Transitional Return-to-Work Program allows an employee with temporary restrictions to work in a modified, light duty, alternative, or limited-hours capacity for a defined period of time while recuperating from an injury or illness.

 

 

How can I tell if an animal is really a service animal and not just a pet?

 

Under the ADA, service animals are defined as animals that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. Some service animals may be professionally trained; others may have been trained by their owners. However, the task that the service animal is trained to do must be directly related to the owner’s disability. Animals whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support to not qualify as service animals under the ADA.

 

To determine if an animal is a service animal, you may ask two questions:

1. Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability?

2. What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?

 

 

Where are accessible restrooms on the campus?

 

Please visit the CSUF Interactive map to view location of accessible restrooms.

*The CSUF map is not available yet for Accessible Restrooms.

 

 

Where can I find Disabled Parking spaces on the campus?

 

Please visit the CSUF Interactive map to view the location of Disabled Parking spaces.

*The CSUF map is not available yet for Disabled Parking spaces.