“Who is a Disabled Individual?”

Any person who:

1. has a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major
life activities (functions such as caring for one’s self, performing manual tasks,
walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning and working);
2. has a record of such an impairment (has a history of a mental or physical impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities); or
3. is regarded as having such an impairment. A person may be included in this definition if he or she:
a. has a physical or mental impairment that does substantially limit major life activities but is not treated by the institution as though such a limitation exists;
b. has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits major
life activities only as a result of the attitudes of others toward such
an impairment; or
c. has none of the impairments defined below under “physical or
mental impairments,” but is treated by the institution as having an
impairment.

Physical or mental impairment, as defined, means:

1. any physiological disorder or condition, cosmetic disfigurement, or anatomical loss affecting one or more of the following body systems: neurological; muscular-
skeletal; special sense organs; respiratory, including speech organs; cardiovascular; reproductive; digestive; genitor urinary; hemic and lymphatic; skin; and endocrine; or
2. any mental or psychological disorder, such as mental retardation, organic brain syndrome, emotional or mental illness, and specific learning disabilities.

Physical impairment encompasses disabilities and conditions such as:

*orthopedic *cancer
*visual *heart disease
*hearing impairments *diabetes
*cerebral palsy *mental retardation
*epilepsy *emotional illness
*muscular dystrophy *drug addiction
*multiple sclerosis

Mental impairment encompasses specific learning disabilities such as:

*perceptual handicaps *dyslexia
*brain injury *developmental aphasia
*minimal brain dysfunction

Many students with invisible disabilities involved in academic and extra curricular activities may be difficult to identify. Many of these students need no special accommodations in the classroom and others will only need minor accommodations.

The information above under the heading, “Who is a Disabled Individual?” was taken from Guide to the Section 504 Self-Evaluation for Colleges and Universities.

The Office of Disability Support Services can work only if students make their needs or concerns known.

Disability Support Services
Office of Student Development and Testing
3535 Adkission Drive
P.O. Box 3570
Cleveland, Tennessee 37320-3570
423-478-6217

Amy Derrick, Coordinator
aderrick@clevelandstatecc.edu

*Special Thanks to Ann Bowen who graciously allowed the use of her model.