Radiography programs and the ADA

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), radiologic technology educational programs may not discriminate against qualified disabled individuals who meet admissions criteria. The authors conducted a survey of educational programs to determine familiarity with the law and collect data on admissions practices, specifically technical standards and physical exams. Results indicated that a majority of respondents were only somewhat familiar with the ADA; that most programs have technical standards in place, although they vary in specificity; and that self-assessment was the most frequent method of assessing compliance. Programs reported the use of various methods to assess the health of applicants, and few challenges to the health evaluation process were reported. A moderate need for reasonable accommodations was demonstrated.