Reconsideration and Appeal

Overview

The Office of Disability Services is the University office designated to determine reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities, as required by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the ADA Amendments Act. If a student’s accommodation request(s) cannot be supported by current documentation, then a specific rationale will be provided. Students who disagree with a determination have the option to request a reconsideration.

Level 1: Reconsideration

Reconsideration is the initial step for students to request a review of a Disability Services accommodation decision. If a student has additional disability documentation, new information, or wishes to further clarify their needs, they may contact their DS Staff Member to request a reconsideration. The DS Staff Member will gather the information to present for a collaborative DS team review. This process provides an opportunity to review a prior Disability Services decision while taking any new information or clarifying points into consideration.

Level 2: Formal Appeal

If a student remains dissatisfied with the reconsideration decision, they may request an appeal to have a formal review of the determination by the Director of Disability Services. Students should submit the appeal request in writing to the DS Director as soon as possible following their receipt of the written determination. The appeal must clearly state the reason(s) for the student’s disagreement with the reconsideration decision. The Director will review the details of the prior findings and may request additional information if needed as part of the process to ensure a thorough reassessment.

Address appeals to Gena Smith, DS Director at Gena.Smith@charlotte.edu and include the words “FORMAL APPEAL” in your subject line.

Note: As part of these processes, the DS staff or the Director may need to contact you via email or request a meeting to gather further information.

Reconsideration vs. Grievance – Which one do I need?

Reconsideration: Students who disagree with a determination of eligibility for accommodations have the option to request an accommodation reconsideration. This process is specifically designed to provide a review of a prior Disability Services decision in cases where a requested accommodation was not approved. If a student remains dissatisfied with the reconsideration decision, they may request an appeal to have a formal review of the determination.

Grievance: A grievance is a report of alleged discrimination on the basis of disability regarding University services, activities, programs, or benefits. Students seeking to address such concerns should follow the steps detailed on the Student Grievance Procedure webpage.