Accessibility at UNM

ADA Coordinators:

Francie Cordova, Chief Compliance Officer and ADA Coordinator 

Heather Jaramillo, Director of Equal Opportunity and ADA Coordinator 

ADA TITLE II NOTICE  ADA GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE

UNM is committed to its values, including accessibility. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed by Congress in 1990 to ensure that people with disabilities are protected from discrimination and have an equal opportunity to utilize services and resources in our society.

Qualified individuals with disabilities are protected from discrimination under University policy, New Mexico state law, and federal law. This includes protection from discrimination, harassment, exclusion, and retaliation for requesting accommodation or accessible services. This protection extends to UNM’s students, staff, faculty, visitors, athletes, housing residents, and other participants in University activities.

Services, programs, and activities at UNM must be administered in the most integrated setting appropriate to encourage interaction among all users, including individuals with disabilities.

This does not mean taking actions that would fundamentally alter the nature of a service, program, or activity; would destroy the historic significance of an historic property; or would result in undue financial and administrative burden to the University, based on total campus resources.

Need Assistance With Accommodations?

For Students: visit the Accessibility Resource Center website.

For Employees: visit CEEO’s Workplace Accommodations page.

For Applicants: please email Human Resources at hrpr@unm.edu or call (505) 277-2013.

For physical or facility repairs: please submit a work order to Facilities Management or call (505) 277-1600.

To file a complaint: please submit a report through the UNM EthicsPoint Hotline, which includes the ability to submit an electronic complaint or make a phone call, as well as to remain anonymous.

UNM Accessibility and Access-Related Policies [present as a dropdown/accordion/some other best practice way of presenting this information]:


At least one accessible route 36" minimum clear width from public transportation stops, designated accessible parking, and public sidewalks to the accessible building entrance they serve. The accessible route shall, to the maximum extent feasible, coincide with the route for the general public and not through non-public areas such as kitchens and storerooms.

At least one building entrance doorway with 32" minimum clear width; doors with easy-to-grasp hardware. Opening pressure for exterior door on an accessible route not to exceed 8.5 pounds of force - 5 pounds of force for interior doors on an accessible route.

Corridors 36" minimum clear width that are part of an accessible route.

All event room(s)/location(s) reachable by an accessible route (accessible route may include the use of corridors, ramps, lifts, and elevators) from primary building entrance.

Event room doorways with 32" minimum clear width. (In theater style seating, provide integrated accessible locations. One method to accomplish this is to remove a chair from every other row adjacent to the aisle to provide a selection of seating for wheelchair users.) Minimize the use of rooms with multiple stepped levels unless they provide appropriate integrated accessible seating (at least two dispersed locations).

At least one drinking fountain bubbler 36" maximum above floor.

Temporary directional signage where no permanent signage exists.

Brailled and raised numbers on all control panels inside elevator cabs and on all elevator hoistway entrances.

Provide information on restroom locations in a facility if all are not accessible. Provide at least one accessible men's and one accessible women's restroom serving the event location(s) with:

An accessible entry on an accessible route.

At least one men's and one women's accessible commode stall door 32" minimum.

Grab bars behind and on one side of each accessible commode.

48" clear space in front, and 32" clear space on one side, of each accessible commode.

Top of each accessible commode seat 17-19" from floor.

At least one accessible lavatory with 29" clearance underneath, blade valve handles, and insulated hot water drain pipes.

At least one accessible mirror bottom mounted 40" maximum above floor and dispensers (at least one towel, sanitary napkin, seat cover, soap) mounted with highest operable part 40" maximum above floor.

Accessible controls and operating mechanisms shall be operable with one hand and shall not require tight grasping, pinching, or turning of the wrist (can be operated with a closed fist). The force required to activate accessible controls shall be no greater than 5 pounds of force.

Availability of sign language interpreters (if requested by appropriate advance notice).

Availability of communications devices such as TTY's (Teletypewriters) for individuals with speech or hearing impairments to receive or initiate telephone calls.

Assign someone to assist with heavy doors (or prop them open) and directions if event room is difficult to locate.

Special Dietary Considerations: When food is served at an event, it is recommended that individuals have the opportunity to request food that meets those restrictions that are related to their disability (e.g., those who have food allergies, are on sodium-free or fat-restricted diets, etc.)

If there is a raised platform or riser, check portable ramps for slope (for safety, avoid more than one inch of rise per foot of run). Assign someone to serve as an escort for individuals with disabilities to maneuver up and down the ramp and provide assistance on the stairs if requested.

If individuals with disabilities may be using microphones, arrange for lowered standing microphone or preferable, a table with a microphone. Refrain from using a podium.

Set up assistive listening devices, if they have been requested, with plenty of time to work with the audio system staff.

Provide agendas in alternate formats (Braille, large print, audiotape, diskette) depending on the requests received.

Provide a schematic drawing of room layout to facility staff for accurate setup, showing wheelchair access, chairs removed intermittently for integrated seating, and locations for tables, microphones, etc.

Make appropriate arrangements for telephone line for TTY, if there is no public TTY phone. Arrange for TV monitor or screen for text captioning, or other needs related to accommodations, if requested.

When a video monitor, slide projector, or overhead projector is being used, have an individual assigned to monitor light switches. This individual must know in advance to ensure appropriate lighting for the sign language interpreters or text captioning equipment to be visible by those using these services.

Braille is a system of exact translation of printed letters into raised dots which can be read by fingertips. There are two grades of Braille commonly used: Grade 1 translates every single character, while Grade 2 is a shorthand translation. Grade 2 is the form preferred by most users.

Enlarged print is for individuals with partial sight. On a personal computer, font size of 14 or greater will produce large print. For printers and typewriters, there are large print wheels that will produce large print. For directional signs and door markings, high contrast raised letters and numerals 5/8" high or larger should be used.

Audiotaped materials can be produced by a reader/recorder who records written material according to specific standards set by the Library of Congress Talking Book Program. Audiotape cassettes can be reproduced for distribution to individuals with visual impairments.

Alternative computer media formats which can be utilized by persons with visual impairments who have access to computers with voice output and/or text enlargement capabilities. Media should be labeled indicating the contents of the material and the software program utilized.

Transcription (text captioning) services for individuals with hearing impairments are provided by a typist who turns aurally presented material into typewritten form. The user sits beside the transcriber and reads the typed text, or the typed text is transmitted to a television monitor or large screen for viewing by several individuals.

Assistive listening devices amplify sound for hard-of-hearing individuals. A transmitter connected to the public address system transmits a signal. The user gets the signal through a small receiver, typically in a headset or earphone, and can adjust the amplified sound to his/her needs.

Open and closed captioning provides written text for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals on the lower portion of the screen of film, videotapes, slides, and TV programming.

Telecommunication Device for the Deaf, also called a TTY, is a telephone communications device that an individual with a speech or hearing impairment uses by typing words in place of using voice. The caller and the receiver of the call must both have a TTY to communicate with each other.

In the event one party does not have a TTY, an alternative is the California Relay Service. This communications service gives deaf, hard-of-hearing, and speech impaired individuals the opportunity to make personal and business calls like other telephone users

Relay operators are available at the following numbers.

TTY caller to Non-TTY receiver: (800) 735-2929

Non-TTY caller to TTY receiver: (800) 735-2922

Sign language interpreters translate audio text into American Sign Language for deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals. The services of certified interpreters can be arranged through local service providers such as Accommodating Ideas (phone: 818-752-3320) or by contracting with free-lance interpreters.

Computer Assisted Real Time (CART) means the use of a typist to type event discussions on a digital read-out screen for deaf individuals who don't use sign language.