| Policies and Guidelines |
Maine 4-H Program |
B.1.15 4-H Access, Equity and Opportunity
Maine 4-H Youth Development Diversity and Inclusion Statement
The Maine 4-H Youth Development Program is dedicated to upholding the University and Extension’s Equal Employment Opportunity/Civil Rights, (EEO/CR), goals and policies. We are dedicated to providing outreach to diverse populations within the confines of the financial and staffing resources available. We are actively pursuing the development and delivery of programming and services that meet the needs of Maine’s diverse population. We hold the these goals:
Follow EEO/CR policies and address EEO/CR issues as they arise to ensure a fair and equitable hiring process.
Reach out to new audiences through intentional, inclusive advertising and public relations efforts.
Develop programs that appeal to and meet the needs of underserved and underrepresented youth and potential 4-H volunteers in Maine.
Provide opportunities for staff to meet with and develop relationships with underserved and underrepresented audiences.
Increase needs assessment and networking with underserved and underrepresented populations.
Maine 4-H Disabilities Statement
The University of Maine Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development Program is dedicated to providing information and resources to youth. As part of that commitment, 4-H Youth Development staff and volunteers must be conscientious in providing accommodations that will allow people with disabilities to participate in its educational programs. Facilities used for educational programs must be accessible to those with disabilities.
Other community resources that may be able to assist you include churches, schools, universities, hospitals, community centers and county health departments.
Qualified Individuals with Disabilities: Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) provides comprehensive civil rights protection for "qualified individuals with disabilities." An "individual with a disability" is a person who:
Has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a "major life activity," or
Has a record of such an impairment, or
Is regarded as having such impairment.
Examples of physical or mental impairments include, but are not limited to, such contagious or noncontiguous diseases and conditions as orthopedic, visual, speech, and hearing impairments, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, mental retardation, emotional illness, specific learning disabilities, HIV disease (whether symptomatic or asymptotic), tuberculosis, drug addiction, and alcoholism. Homosexuality and bisexuality are not physical or mental impairments.
"Major life activities" include functions such as caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, and working.
Individuals who currently engage in the illegal use of drugs are not protected by the ADA when an action is taken on the basis of their current illegal use of drugs.
A "qualified" individual with a disability is one who meets the essential eligibility requirements for the program or activity offered by a public entity.
The "essential eligibility requirements" will depend on the type of service or activity involved.
For some activities, such as state licensing programs, the ability to meet specific skill and performance requirements may be "essential."
For other activities, such as where the public entity provides information to anyone who requests it, the "essential eligibility requirements" would be minimal.
2/7/02