Grievance Procedure

Resolving ADA Concerns

The University of Mary Washington is committed to ensuring equal access to students with disabilities. UMW complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, as amended.

For detailed information on the Grievance Procedure at the University of Mary Washington, please review: Discrimination Grievance Procedure

Areas of ADA responsibilities

  • The Office of Disability Resources (ODR) is responsible for working with students through an interactive process to determine reasonable accommodation and coordinate the provision of appropriate auxiliary aids, services, and adjustments. ODR is also responsible for generating accommodation letters when reasonable requests are made by qualified students, serving in a liaison capacity to address disability related barriers, and providing awareness building opportunities and technical assistance for members of the UMW community.
  • Faculty in teaching roles are responsible for responding to requests for accommodation and working with ODR when technical assistance is needed. Faculty who have concerns about specific adjustments need to implement adjustments as outlined in the official notification while working through the fundamental alteration determination process, unless ODR approves otherwise.
  • Students who need accommodation should reference the supporting pages detailed within the ODR website, including the ODR Registration Process, for full process descriptions. Students are responsible for making reasonable requests in a timely manner and also for communicating with ODR if there are questions or concerns related to the implementation of specific adjustments.

Resolving student accommodation-related concerns 

  • If the concern is related to student accommodations, ODR can assist by facilitating communication with the staff person, program, department, or organization. ODR may contact the appropriate department chair, dean, or other necessary faculty/staff in an effort to clarify and resolve the situation.
  • Any concerns that cannot be resolved swiftly through this approach will be brought to the attention of the ODR Director, who may consult with others as needed.
  • If the concern cannot be resolved by the ODR Director, ODR will provide information about UMW’s discrimination grievance procedures so the concern can be addressed through the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

Non-discrimination statement

At the University of Mary Washington the principles of equal opportunity and affirmative action are practiced.  The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, parental status (including pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, family medical history or genetic information, political affiliation, military service, or other non-merit based factors in recruiting, admitting, enrolling students or hiring and promoting faculty and staff members.

External discrimination complaint

Students are encouraged to work through the internal process, but do have the right to file an external complaint of disability discrimination with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights.