ADA/504 Coordinator:
Dorca Paulino-Smalley

Director & Deputy Title IX Coordinator              Office of Equal Opportunity
201 Carlotti Administration Building
75 Lower College Rd.
Kingston, RI 02881
dorca_paulino@uri.edu
401.874.4929

The University of Rhode Island Policy on Nondiscrimination was developed to eliminate, prevent, and address conduct that constitutes prohibited discrimination or retaliation at the University.

Procedures for Policy on Nondiscrimination have been established by the University to ensure compliance with the Nondiscrimination Policy and are intended to be consistent and compliant with the procedural and substantive provisions of appropriate state and federal law and regulations.

Responsibilities and Duties of ADA/504 Coordinator

The ADA/504 Coordinator’s responsibilities include assuring compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as Amended, and other federal and state laws and regulations pertaining to persons with disabilities.

     Compliance Process Responsibilities

• Ensures appropriate processes are in place to provide for the prompt and equitable resolution of complaints and inquiries from University of Rhode Island employees and students, as well as the public, regarding compliance with the ADA and other applicable federal and state laws regarding discrimination on the basis of disability.
• Investigates allegations of discrimination and non-compliance under the ADA and other applicable federal and state laws regarding discrimination on the basis of disability.
• Maintains a record of all disability and accommodation issues and the resolution of each.

     Informational Responsibilities:

• Maintains current information regarding state and federal laws and regulations concerning the rights of persons with disabilities and ways of providing reasonable accommodations to persons with disabilities while maintaining program performance standards.
• Maintains current information regarding state and federal laws and regulations relating to the university’s employment policies and procedures for faculty, staff, and academic professional employees with disabilities.

Laura Kenerson, Director of the Office of Human Resource Administration, is responsible for approving and monitoring qualified disability status and requests for accommodations.   Requests are made using the Reasonable Accommodation Request Form found on the Office of Human Resource Administration website. 

Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended – prohibits discrimination based on disability in employment, public accommodations, education, public services, transportation, and telecommunications and requires provision of reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. In September 2008 the ADA was amended to expand the definition of “disability” in favor of broader coverage of individuals to the maximum extent permitted by the terms of the ADA and generally shall not require extensive analysis. Read more

Office of Human Resource Website

For further information, please contact the Office of Equal Opportunity at 401.874.4929 or email Dorca Paulino-Smalley at dorca_paulino@uri.edu.