Disability Services (DS) collaborates with students with documented disabilities to provide reasonable accommodations that are individualized and based upon disability documentation, functional limitations, and a collaborative assessment of needs.
Students with disabilities who have met with a Disability Services specialist and are not satisfied with their approved accommodation(s) or have additional concerns have two options.
Option 1: Informal Process – Appeal the decision by emailing the Director of Disability Services to schedule a meeting. This meeting is an opportunity for the student to engage in additional conversation and if necessary, provide supplemental documentation to support a request. Please include the following in your email:
- Name and contact information of the complainant
- Date(s) of the alleged incident
- Parties involved
- Specific explanation of the concern
Option 2: Formal Process – Formally document the appeal or concern through the University by completing the Official Written Student Complaints form. Once a report is submitted the Director of Disability Services will be notified and will reach out to the complainant to schedule a meeting. This meeting is an opportunity for the student to engage in additional conversation and if necessary provide supplemental documentation to support a request.
To learn more about the informal and formal complaint process, please visit Official Student Written Complaints Policy 3016 and Additional Information and Procedures for University Policy 3016.
Should the student wish to appeal the final decision of DS, the next step is for the student to appeal the decision to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Coordinator in the Office of Access, Compliance, and Community (OACC) office. The ADA Coordinator is available to students and DS for consultation and assistance with the resolution of disability-related issues and concerns. For more information, review the full Appeals Process below:
- Once a student has appealed an accommodation decision internally with Disability Services (DS), they may appeal the DS decision to the ADA Coordinator in the Office of Access, Compliance, and Community (OACC). Students should contact the ADA Coordinator by emailing [email protected] to discuss the specific accommodation request(s) being appealed and the basis for their appeal. The appeal can be submitted in writing or verbally.
- The ADA Coordinator will review the student’s request(s), the documentation submitted to DS in support of the request(s), the student’s DS case notes (if necessary), and any additional documentation the student chooses to submit to the ADA Coordinator. The ADA Coordinator will also discuss the accommodation decision(s) and the rationale behind them with DS.
- The ADA Coordinator will generally respond to the student in writing within 10 business days of receiving the appeal. If the appeal review and determination will take longer than 10 business days, the ADA Coordinator will inform the student and provide an estimated time for completion.
- The decision of the ADA Coordinator is final at the University. To contact the ADA Coordinator, please email [email protected].
- If a student believes they are being discriminated against in violation of university policy and/or federal and state statutes and regulations, they may file a complaint with the Office of Access, Compliance, and Community (OACC).