Understand participation rights of student-athletes with disabilities

Abstract

Several years have passed since the Office for Civil Rights issued a “Dear Colleague Letter” discussing the participation rights of student-athletes with disabilities at the interscholastic level and the corresponding obligations of schools. Although a similar letter hasn’t been issued at the intercollegiate level, that DCL, a federal regulation that addresses intercollegiate athletics, and a number of court cases collectively provide a helpful framework and important reminders for how to address these issues in the college sports arena.