Accommodation Appeals Process

504/ADA Compliance 

Effective May 1, 2021

The University of Michigan, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action, including Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The University of Michigan is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination and equal opportunity for all persons regardless of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, height, weight, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504, no qualified person will be denied access to, participation in, or the benefits of, any program or activity operated by the University because of disability. The University will not discriminate against a qualified individual because of the known disability of another individual with whom the qualified individual is known to have a relationship or association. To ensure the University is in compliance with the ADA the University engages in an interactive process to explore reasonable accommodations. This includes evaluating the unique attributes and requirements of the course, program, or activity. A reasonable accommodation is a course modification, auxiliary aid, or service that removes a disability-related barrier without fundamentally altering an essential component of a course, university program, or activity.  

The Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) office provides reasonable academic accommodations to Undergraduate and Graduate students with disabilities. Questions and concerns related to a student’s disability-related academic accommodation should be immediately brought to the attention of SSD staff. The SSD office serves as the University’s primary point of contact in initially reviewing student’s disability-related Academic Accommodations, and will consult with other offices across campus during the exploration process of accommodations and when addressing student’s concerns regarding the decision made in regards to accommodation requests.

Steps to Addressing and Resolving an Accommodation Concern: 

The steps outlined below are intended to provide general guidance to help students get their concerns addressed in an appropriate and timely manner. 

1. Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) Coordinator – Students should present and discuss their concern/question regarding the written decision of their accommodation request to their SSD coordinator. The SSD office recommends that the student emails their coordinator as soon as possible to schedule an in-person or virtual meeting to discuss any concerns or questions they may have. This conservation may start a new interactive process in an attempt to determine what reasonable accommodation addresses the disability-related barriers a student identifies. If the student still has questions or concerns regarding the determination made in regards to their accommodation request they should proceed to the following step.

2. Director of SSD – The student must email a written appeal to the Director of the SSD office within 15 business days detailing the questions and concerns a student still has after completing step one. The Director of SSD will review the student’s written appeal, which includes having a meeting with the student, and will respond in writing within 15 business days following receipt of the written appeal. 

3. ADA Coordinator- The student should submit a written appeal within 15 business days to The ADA Coordinator in the  Equity, Civil Rights, and Title IX (ECRT) by email at [email protected]. ECRT will consult with the student, SSD, and any other relevant stakeholders or entities in order to address the student's concerns.

False Allegations

Intentionally making false accusations can have a negative impact on the individuals involved and the community.   An individual who knowingly and intentionally files a false complaint under this policy is subject to discipline.

Campus Resources