The University of Pittsburgh is committed to ensuring that students and employees with disabilities have equal access to programs, services, and activities across the University. If you believe your accommodation request was wrongly denied or inadequately implemented, these procedures provide a clear path to resolution.
- Disputing a Denial of an Accommodation
Step 1: Reconsideration
If your request for accommodation is denied, you may request reconsideration through your assigned Accessibility Coordinator within fourteen (14) days of the original denial.
To support reconsideration, please email your Accessibility Coordinator with additional written information and documentation that addresses the need for such accommodation(s) in order to ensure access to the University. Examples of helpful information may include but are not limited to:
- Further details on how the accommodation supports your access needs
- Additional disability documentation from a qualified provider
- Descriptions or examples of barriers you experienced without the accommodation
Disability Resources and Services (DRS) will review your submission and may schedule an additional meeting to review any new information you provide. The information will be reconsidered, and a decision will be provided to you within seven (7) days of the reconsideration request, with consideration given to the impact of University recesses and/or observable holidays.
Step 2: Appeal
If you do not have, or cannot obtain, additional information for reconsideration, or if the reconsideration does not resolve your concern, you may submit a written appeal to the Director of DRS, or their designee, within fourteen (14) days of the reconsideration decision, or of the original denial, if no reconsideration occurred.
The Director, or their designee, will meet with you to review your concerns if you desire a meeting, will review submitted documentation and information, and may consult with appropriate University personnel as needed.
A written decision will be issued within seven (7) days of the appeal request, which is final within the University process.
- Disputing the Implementation of Approved Accommodation(s)
If accommodations have been approved but are not being implemented as intended:
- Attempt to resolve the issue directly with the relevant faculty, staff, or supervisor.
- If unresolved, involve your Accessibility Coordinator to facilitate a resolution.
- Should concerns persist, your Accessibility Coordinator will consult with the Director and other University personnel as needed.
- Discrimination, Harassment, or Bias Related to Disability
If you believe you have experienced discrimination, harassment, or bias based on disability, you may file a formal grievance through the Office for Civil Rights & Title IX.
Section 504, the ADA, and the ADAAA, state, in part, that “no qualified individual with a disability shall, by reason of such disability, be excluded from participation in or be denied the benefits of the services, programs, or activities of a public entity, or be subjected to discrimination by such an entity.”
Filing A Grievance
The University of Pittsburgh provides both informal and formal processes to attempt to resolve disagreements regarding academic accommodations. The University's formal grievance procedure for challenging a decision regarding academic accommodations can be found on the Grievance Procedure page of the Office of Institutional Engagement and Wellbeing's website. The University also strongly encourages individuals to attempt to resolve issues informally, though the informal process need not be pursued prior to filing a formal grievance. In addition, pursuing the informal process will not delay the time within which a formal grievance must be filed, which is within 30 days after a complainant becomes aware of the disputed decision.