Athletic Training and the American Disabilities Act (ADA)

Becoming an athletic training student requires the completion of a professional education program that is both intellectually and physically challenging. The purpose of this document is to articulate the demands of this program in a way that will allow students selected for admission into the Athletic Training Program (ATP) to compare their own capabilities against these demands. This document meets the requirements outlines by the American Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. The ADA makes it unlawful to discriminate against individuals with disabilities.

Applicants who are offered a position in the ATP are asked to verify their ability to complete the tasks, with or without reasonable accommodations, associated with performing as an athletic training student. Reasonable accommodation refers to ways in which the University can assist students with disabilities to accomplish these tasks, ie: providing extra time to complete an examination, enhancing the sound system in a classroom or providing a push cart for a student who may not have the strength to carry a cooler full of water.

Reasonable accommodation does not mean that students with disabilities will be exempt from certain tasks; it does mean that we will work with students with disabilities to determine whether there are ways that we can assist the student towards completion of the tasks. The University will provide reasonable accommodation as long as the accommodation does not fundamentally alter the requirements of completing the ATP.

Students accepting a position in the ATP who indicate that they can complete these tasks, with or without reasonable accommodation, are not required to disclose the specifics of their disabilities until after acceptance into the program. After acceptance into the program, a student with a disability who wishes reasonable accommodation must make a formal request to the Athletic Training Program Director. The student must be prepared to provide documentation to the University Disability Coordinator. Students with a disability must register with the Disability Resources & Build office in Schwitzer Student Center 001, (317) 788-­6153, for disability verification and for determination of reasonable academic accommodations. You are responsible for initiating arrangements for accommodations for tests and other assignments in collaboration with the Disability Resources & BUILD office and the faculty. A student may be administratively withdrawn if it becomes apparent that the student cannot complete essential tasks even with accommodation that the accommodations needed are not reasonable and would cause undue hardship to the institution, or that fulfilling the functions would create a significant risk of harm to the health of safety of others.

Students who have questions about this document or who would like to discuss specific accommodations should make an inquiry with the Athletic Training Program Director.

Essential Tasks

  1. Students must meet course and clinical education.
  2. Students must demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively and sensitively with patients and colleagues, including individuals from different cultural and social backgrounds; this includes, but is not limited to, the ability to establish rapport with patients and communicate judgments and treatment information Students must be able to understand and speak the English language at a level consistent with competent professional practice.
  3. Students must complete readings, assignments and other activities outside of class
  4. Students must gather decision-­‐making pieces of information during an injury assessment activity in class or in the clinical setting without the use of an intermediary such as a classmate, GA or certified athletic trainer.
  5. Students must demonstrate sufficient postural and neuromuscular control, sensory function, and coordination to perform appropriate physical examinations, treatment and rehabilitation using accepted techniques; and accurately, safely and efficiently use equipment and materials during the assessment and treatment of patients.
  6. Students must apply critical thinking and problem solving to formulate assessment and therapeutic judgments, to be able to distinguish deviations from the norm, and follow safe practice often in stressful situations.
  7. Students must maintain professional personal appearance and hygiene in the classroom and clinical setting.
  8. Students must annually complete OSHA-­‐regulated Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Training and complete the Hepatitis B Vaccine series.
  9. Demonstrate flexibility and the ability to adjust to changing situations and uncertainty in clinical situations.

Typical Skills and Physical Demands Needed to Complete These Essential Tasks

  1. Students typically sit for 2-­‐10 hours daily in the classroom, stand for 1-­‐2 hours daily at a clinical experience and must be able to ambulate 10 yards at 2 miles per hour indoor or outdoor over rough terrain.
  2. Students frequently lift less than 10 pounds and occasionally lift between 10-­‐20 overhead.
  3. Students occasionally carry up to 25-­‐30 LBS while walking up to 10-­‐20
  4. Students frequently exert 25 pounds of push/pull forces to objects up to 50
  5. Students frequently twist, bend, stoop and kneel on the floor up to 15
  6. Students frequently move from place to place and position to position and must do so at a speed that permits safe handling of classmates and injured patients.
  7. Students frequently stand and walk while providing support to a
  8. Students frequently coordinate verbal and manual activities with gross motor
  9. Students use auditory, tactile, and visual senses to receive classroom instruction and to evaluate and treat patients.
  10. Students often will need to have 20/40 vision to correctly see activities across the field, court or mat.
  11. Students frequently need basic neurological function to perceive hot, cold, change in contour of surface/body part and to maintain 10 LBS. of grip strength for 30 secs.
  12. Students frequently need bladder, bowel and emotion control for 1-­‐2
  13. Students may have to perform CPR, First Aid, and patient transportation

 

Examples of Physical Demands needed to complete Essential Tasks include:

  1. Transporting injured athletes from the
  2. Carrying heavy 10-­‐gallon water
  3. Carrying heavy medical
  4. Completing physical testing procedures of muscles and ligaments to all body joints,
  5. Completing taping
  6. Running across uneven field surfaces in a reasonable amount of time to care for emergency situations.
  7. Assist in lifting patients and transporting for a short

Candidates for selection to the ATP will be required to verify they understand and meet these technical standards or that they believe that, with certain accommodations, they can meet the standards. 

The Disability Resources & Build office will evaluate a student who states he/she could meet the program’s technical standards with accommodation and confirm that the stated condition qualifies as a disability under applicable laws.


If a student states he/she can meet the technical standards with accommodation, then the University will determine whether it agrees that the student can meet the technical standards with reasonable accommodation; this includes a review to determine whether the accommodations requested are reasonable, taking into account whether the accommodation would jeopardize clinician/patient safety, or the educational process of the student or the institution, including all coursework, clinical experiences and internships deemed essential to graduation.

I certify that I have read and understand the technical standards listed above, and I believe to the best of my knowledge that I meet each of these standards with or without accommodation. I understand that if I am unable to meet these standards, I will not be admitted into the Athletic Training Program.
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