UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN River Falls

Disability Resource Center

Policies

Commitment to Access and Inclusion

UW-River Falls provides reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities. Students wishing to make an academic accommodation request should consult with the Disability Resource Center. The below procedures are to be used to help resolve student concerns about academic accommodations. Whenever possible, issues should be settled through informal discussions among those involved. If an issue cannot be resolved through such means, students should use the below procedures.

UW-River Falls Accommodation Appeal Process

 

Denied a Requested Academic Accommodation Through the Disability Resource Center 

 

Stage 1: Informal Request 

  • All informal requests are reviewed and determined by the Disability Resource Center Director
  • All students who have an accommodation request denied, will receive an accommodation explanation letter from the Disability Resource Center Director that notifies the student why the accommodation request was denied.
  • Students in disagreement with the decision, will be asked to complete the following steps:
    • Provide clarifying information in writing to answer the questions of the Disability Resource Center Director.
    • If applicable, provide additional documentation to support the need for their request.
    • Submit a written statement that includes the following items:
      • Explain the concern and identify any course or people that are involved.
      • When did the concern first arise?
      • How has this issue impacted you (ex: academically, socially, etc...)? 
      • Identify what you have already done to attempt to resolve the concern?
      • Describe what the situation would look like if resolved?
  • After all supplemental materials have been delivered, the Disability Resource Center Director will contact the student within 7 business days to review the request. 
  • The Disability Resource Center Director will notify the student in writing of their decision within 7 days after the appeal is received. The Disability Resource Center Director may confirm, modify, or reverse the decision. 
  • At no time during the appeal process shall a student be harassed or have negative consequence of filing an appeal. 

Stage 2: Formal Request 

  • All formal requests are reviewed and determined by the ADA Coordinator for Students.
  • Students may request a review within 15 days after the receipt of the decision of the Disability Resource Center Director.
  • To request a formal accommodation, a written appeal should be sent to the ADA Coordinator for Students. Students should supply the following information:
    • Explain the concern and identify any course or people that are involved.
    • When did the concern first arise?
    • How has this issue impacted you (ex: academically, socially, etc...)? 
    • Identify what you have already done to attempt to resolve the concern?
    • Describe what the situation would look like if resolved?
  • The ADA Coordinator for Student's review will consist of the student's case file, the Disability Resource Center Director's findings and recommendations, as well as the student's written materials supplied to the ADA Coordinator for Students.
  • The ADA Coordinator for Students will notify the student in writing of their decision within 14 days after the appeal is received. The ADA Coordinator for Students may modify or reverse the decision only if the Disability Resource Center Director's decision was not supported by the record or if the Disability Resource Center Director substantially failed to comply with internal procedures to deny a fair review of the student's request.
  • At no time during the appeal process shall a student be harassed or have negative consequence of filing an appeal.

Denied an Approved Reasonable Academic Accommodation Through the Disability Resource Center

 

Stage 1: Informal Request 

  • If the university, department, faculty, or program is not providing an approved Disability Resource Center accommodation, it is recommended that students e-mail their concerns immediately to the Disability Resource Center Director, Alicia Reinke-Tuthill (alicia.reinketuthill@uwrf.edu) so they are clearly documented. 
  • At no time during the appeal process shall a student be harassed or have negative consequence of filing an appeal. 
  • The Disability Resource Center Director will meet with the student and the involved parties to problem-solve and mediate a solution. 

Stage 2: Formal Request 

  • If the issue is not resolved via a meeting with the student, the Disability Resource Center Director, and the involved party, a student can file a written appeal with the Disability Resource Center Director.
  • A student's written appeal must be filled within 15 days after the denial of the approved accommodation. The written appeal is to be submitted to the Disability Resource Center Director.
  • To request a formal review, the student must complete supply a written statement to the ADA Coordinator for Students. 
  • The ADA Coordinator for Student's review will consist of the student's case file, the Disability Resource Center Director's findings, and recommendations, as well as the student’s written statement.
  • The ADA Coordinator for Students may confirm, modify, or reverse the decision of the individual denying the approved academic accommodation.
  • The ADA Coordinator for Students may refer the matter to the Department Chair, Dean of the College, and the Disability Resource Center Director. The ADA Coordinator for Students will notify the student in writing of their decision within 14 days after the appeal is received.
  •  At no time during the appeal process shall a student be harassed or have negative consequence of filing an appeal.

Denied a Requested Housing Accommodation 

 

Stage 1: Informal Request 

  • All informal requests are reviewed and determined by the Disability-Related Housing Accommodation Committee.
  • All students who have a housing accommodation request denied, will receive an accommodation explanation letter from the Assistant Director for Residence Life-Facilities and Business Operations that notifies the student why the accommodation request was denied.
  • Students in disagreement with the decision, who wish to pursue an informal appeal will be asked to complete one of the following steps:
    • Provide clarifying information in writing and additional documentation to support the need for their requested housing accommodation.  
    • When the documentation or supplied self-report fom the student is determined to be incomplete, it will be made clear by the Assistant Director for Residence Life-Facilities and Business Operations of what type of information may be necessary for them to submit for their accommodation request to be reconsidered. 

Stage 2: Formal Request 

  • To make a formal appeal request, all written statements and documentation should be submitted to the ADA Coordinator for Students. Written statements should include the following information:
    • Explain the concern and identify any course or people that are involved.
    • When did the concern first arise?
    • How has this issue impacted you (ex: living environment, academically, socially, etc...)? 
    • Identify what you have already done to attempt to resolve the concern?
    • Describe what the situation would look like if resolved?
  • After all supplemental materials have been delivered, the Disability-Related Housing Accommodation Committee and the ADA Coordinator for Students, will convene to review all of the new information and documentation supplied to support the need for the requested housing accommodation.
  • The ADA Coordinator for Student's review will consist of the student's case file, the Disability-Related Housing Accommodation Committee's findings, and recommendations,
  • The ADA Coordinator for Students will notify the student in writing of their decision within 15 days after the appeal is received. The ADA Coordinator for Students may modify or reverse the decision only if the Disability-Related Housing Accommodation Committee decision was not supported by the record or if the committee substantially failed to comply with internal procedures to deny a fair review of the student's request.
  • If the ADA Coordinator for Students denies the student's requested formal appeal, the student will not be eligible to apply for the same housing accommodation at any point during the academic year. 
  • At no time during the appeal process shall a student be harassed or have negative consequence of filing an appeal.

Further Action 

  • Students who feel that these procedures have not adequately resolved their concerns are directed to the Discrimination, Harrassment, and Retaliation Policy. 
  • Federal law also provides students the option of contacting the Office of Civil Rights, for more information or assistance contact:

U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights 

400 Maryland Avenue, SW

Washington, D.C. 20202-1100

Telephone: 1-800-245-6800

Fax: 202-245-6840; TDD: 877-521-2172

E-mail: OCR@ed.gov

 

Other Disability Resource Center Services Policies

 

The University of Wisconsin-River Falls is committed to provide students with disabilities an equal opportunity to access, participate in, and benefit from any of the university’s services, programs, and activities. UWRF, as a Title II institution under the Section 504 Americans with Disabilities Act, receives federal funding and is mandated by law to accommodate students with disabilities.

Implementation of Policy:

Students in need of accommodations should submit their request to the Disability Resource Center. Students may request academic and housing accommodations through the Disability Resource Center. Accommodations will be offered to eligible students, unless the accommodation would fundamentally alter the nature of the program, service, or activity. UWRF provides students with reasonable accommodations in a timely manner.

The Disability Resource Center uses an interactive process and the use of submitted clinical documentation to determine the reasonable nature of each student’s individual accommodation request. All accommodations are determined on a case-by-case basis. If denied, students will receive written communication pertaining to the reason for the denial, as well as the process used to identify determination.

 

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

The Disability Resource Center adheres and follow the policies set out and established under FERPA.  FERPA governs the release and access of student education records maintained by the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.  Students are afforded certain rights concerning their educational records including (1) the right to inspect and review education records, (2) the right to have the records amended, and (3) the right to have control over the disclosure of the information from the records.

Implementation of Policy:

Disability Resource Center staff do not disclose the nature of a student’s disability without the permission of the student.

Students who elect for Disability Resource Center staff to disclose disability related information to parents or other external entities are required to authorize their permission by completing the Authorization to Release Confidential Information Form.

A temporary impairment does not constitute a disability for purposes of Section 504 of the ADA, unless its severity is such that it results in substitution limitation of one or more major life activities for an extended period of time. All temporary accommodation requests are determined on case-by-case basis.

Implementation of Policy:

The Disability Resource Center meets with students with temporary impairments and determines who can effectively support the student based on the following two factors, (1) the severity of identified symptoms and (2) the expected timeline of recovery.

If the severity of the condition is not substantial and will take less than 4 weeks to recover, faculty are asked to work directly with the student to provide the student the requested accommodation.

Equal Access for Students

Fostering Independence, Reducing Barriers, & Promoting Inclusion

 

Disability Resource Center

715.425.0740
drc@uwrf.edu
Secure Fax: 715.425.0742
Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
123 Rodli Hall