Alabama State University is firmly committed to the principle of providing equal educational employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities in compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Our policies, programs and activities are designed to ensure that all facilities are made available to students and employees with disabilities in the most appropriate integrated setting. We are further committed to the identification and removal of any and all existing barriers that prevent disabled students and employees from enjoying any rights and privileges, advantages, or opportunities enjoyed by nondisabled persons. Questions that may arise regarding university compliance and/or requests for reasonable accommodations should be directed to the Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management. The Vice President's office can be reached at 334-229-4241 or studentaffairs@alasu.edu. 

Special information is shared during Operation Hornet Nation: New Student Orientation (https://www.alasu.edu/current-students/new-student-orientation-2020) about the Office of Disability Services (ODS). Students are encouraged to reach out to the office, as soon as possible, for accommodations. ODS will provide reasonable accommodations for individuals qualifying under the Americans with Disabilities Act and other state and federal laws and regulations. 

Service is dependent upon verifiable student needs. Examples of services provided or coordinated by ODS, include note takers, scribes, print enlargers, reading for the visually impaired, provision of keys to elevators, personal counseling, speech therapy referral, proofreading and cooperation with vocational rehabilitation agencies. 

In the event that a student with a disability finds that an academic program is located in an inaccessible facility, he or she should report it to the office of the dean of his or her college or academic unit. The dean will work with appropriate campus officials, including ODS, to rectify and determine reasonable accommodations.

If a dean reports a student with a physical, perceptual and learning disabilities, ODS will advise such students concerning the availability and location of auxiliary aids to reduce negative effects of physical, cognitive and mental disabilities.

The Alabama Alliance for Students with Disabilities in STEM is a collaborative research project involving four universities (Alabama State University, Auburn University, Auburn University at Montgomery, Tuskegee University), two community colleges (Central Alabama Community College, Southern Union State Community College), the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind, and six school districts in East-Central Alabama: Lee, Chambers, Elmore, Montgomery, Macon, and Tallapoosa County school systems. The goal of the project is to increase the quality and number of students with disabilities completing associate, undergraduate, and graduate degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines and entering the workforce.

The National Science Foundation funding will support several major initiatives including mentoring programs, summer research experiences, and a student advocacy association. Students with disabilities participating in the bridge programs and summer research internships will receive stipends. For more information, please visit the The Alabama Alliance for Students with Disabilities page.