Process to Review and Appeal Disability Accommodation Decisions
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504, and other applicable federal and state laws, Illinois Institute of Technology (“Illinois Tech” or “University”) is committed to providing equal access and reasonable accommodations to qualified students with disabilities. Accordingly, 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.
Students seeking a reasonable accommodation for disability must register with the University’s Center for Disability Resources (CDR) and follow all applicable University and CDR policies and procedures, including the completion and submission of all required documentation, so that CDR may evaluate the request. Information regarding required documentation can be found here. Please note that documentation from a licensed healthcare provider must be submitted to verify the disability and support the medical necessity of the requested accommodation. The University engages in an interactive process with the student and may also, as part of the process, consult with the student’s health care provider, disability services professionals, and appropriate members of the University community, to explore reasonable accommodations. 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. Approved academic accommodations will be communicated to the student and faculty via formal notification from CDR.
The University also provides reasonable housing accommodations to undergraduate and graduate students with documented disabilities. CDR only approves specific housing features as an accommodation in order to provide equal access to an eligible student with a disability. Examples of housing accommodation features include, but are not limited to: a private bedroom, semi-private bathroom, access to a kitchen, a ground-floor room or placement in a building with an elevator or air condition. Requests for a specific room, residence hall, suitemates, and/or roommates are not accommodations provided through CDR, as specific placements are outside the purview of CDR. Should students have questions about a specific placement or their ability to be housed with specific individuals, they should contact the Office of Residence Life. Students can initiate their housing accommodation request through CDR, but must, in addition, complete a housing application and submit any forms and documents required by Office of Residence Life (ORL) by the deadline set by ORL in order to be eligible for a housing assignment; late requests will be considered based on housing availability and need, but there is no guarantee that they will be granted.
Because there is the possibility of disagreement between the student and University about whether a requested accommodation is reasonable and necessary, Illinois Tech has established the review and appeal process set forth below.
Steps for Reviewing and Appealing an Accommodation Denial:
- Request for Secondary Review—After review of the student’s accommodation request, CDR notifies the student in writing whether any accommodation(s) have been approved (“CDR Accommodation Decision”). If a student is denied a requested accommodation and they feel their request is both reasonable and necessary, the student may, within 14 calendar days of receipt of the CDR Accommodation Decision, submit a written request for a secondary review of the CDR Accommodation Decision via email to the Director of the Center for Disability Resources (gwalley@illinoistech.edu). Within the request, the student should clearly state the accommodation they are requesting along with a detailed explanation of why they feel that the accommodation is reasonable and necessary as a result of their documented disability. Following submission, their case will undergo a secondary review and a determination will be communicated in written form. If the student is not satisfied with the decision regarding an accommodation request following this secondary review, they may appeal pursuant to Step 2.
- Appeal to Dean of Students—Within 14 calendar days of receipt of the written secondary review determination, the student may submit a written request to appeal to the Dean of Students (dos@illinoistech.edu). If the University utilizes an appeal form, the student must use such form to file their appeal. The appeal must clearly state the reason(s) that the student is filing the appeal, and must be based on the records that the student submitted to CDR. Following submission of the appeal, the Dean of Students will be granted access to the student’s records housed within CDR in order to allow for a holistic and complete review of the appeal. Following review on appeal, the Dean of Students will communicate their determination and rationale in writing to both the student and the Director of CDR. The decision of the Dean of Students shall be final, and no further review or appeal may be sought by the student under the University’s process and procedures.
Both the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibit discrimination against a qualified student because of a disability. The Office for Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Justice have the authority to investigate student complaints of disability discrimination.