Accessibility Services Complaint Procedure

Accessibility Specialist

First, you should discuss your concern(s) with your assigned Accessibility Specialist.  If a satisfactory solution is not reached, you can proceed to the second step, a written appeal to the Director of Accessibility Services. In general, issues that proceed to the next step include the following:

• Procedural error by the Accessibility Services staff
• Violation of policy by the Accessibility Services staff
• Eligibility for services criteria
• Appropriateness of accommodations
• Reasonableness of accommodations
• Mitigating circumstances

Director of Accessibility Services

The Director of Accessibility Services, Peggy Dennis, fayed@bgsu.edu, (or designee) must receive your appeal within 15 working days following the outcome of the first step, described above. Your written appeal to the Director of Accessibility Services must include:

1. A detailed description of the issue including significant dates
2. The basis for the appeal and any supporting documentation as necessary
3. The resolution requested

You may be contacted for more information.

You will receive a written response from the Director within 15 working days of the date that the appeal was received. University breaks such as spring break or inter-semester breaks are not included in these time frames.

This is the final decision. If there is new information or a new request, please start with your assigned Accessibility Specialist.

Division of Inclusion and Belonging – Equal Opportunity and Compliance

Individuals who believe they have been unlawfully harassed or discriminated against by any member of the BGSU community, including the Office of Accessibility Services, are encouraged to contact the Office of Equal Opportunity and Compliance at 419-372-4322, https://www.bgsu.edu/equity-diversity-and-inclusion/e-o-compliance.html, or Division of Inclusion and Belonging office at 419-372-7100. 

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

The U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights has the authority to investigate complaints of discrimination.  Information and filing an external complaint is available at File a Complaint and includes the following options:

• Online: You may file a complaint with OCR using OCR’s electronic complaint form: https://ocrcas.ed.gov/

• Mail or Facsimile: You may mail or send by facsimile your complaint to the address or phone number available at Contact OCR.

The OCR National Headquarters is located at:

U.S. Department of Education
Office for Civil Rights
Lyndon Baines Johnson Department of Education Bldg.
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-1100

Telephone: 800-421-3481
FAX: 202-453-6012; TDD: 800-877-8339
Email: OCR@ed.gov

• Email: You may email your complaint or your own signed letter to ocr@ed.gov. 

Filing a Section 504/ADA complaint with the responsible federal agency does not impair your right to a prompt and equitable resolution of your complaint.