The Disability Accommodation Appeal Process was established to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act mandate to “provide for prompt and equitable resolution of complaints alleging any action that would be prohibited.”
During the Disability Accommodation Appeal process, an individual should continue to fulfill academic requirements until a final determination has been provided. If you need accommodations to participate in the appeal process, please contact the Goldman Center for Student Accessibility (“Goldman Center”) for assistance.
Please note that students currently working with Goldman Center staff through an ongoing interactive process have the opportunity to connect at any time to discuss concerns or questions about decisions.
Disability Accommodation Appeal Process
The Goldman Center collaborates with students with documented disabilities through an interactive process to provide reasonable accommodations that are individualized and based on disability related need(s). If a Tulane student is denied a requested accommodation and would like to appeal the denial, the student may file an appeal through the process detailed below.
Possible outcomes of the appeal include:
- Upholding the original determination
- Sending back for reconsideration by Goldman Center staff (this occurs when there is new information that was not previously considered in the original determination)
- Reversing or amending the original determination in part or in whole
Primary Appeal Process
The student may initiate a primary appeal by requesting a review of the accommodation determination within 30 days of the notification of the denial. The informal appeal will be reviewed by the Director of the Goldman Center or designee. It is important to know that while engaging in this process, consultation with Goldman staff members and other Tulane departments may occur on a need-to-know basis.
To initiate a formal appeal, students must submit a completed Goldman Center Appeal Form.
After reviewing the Goldman Center Appeal Form and considering the existing documentation, the Director or designee will issue a determination in writing to the student via Tulane email.
Students are required to complete the primary appeal process before proceeding to the final appeal. Most disagreements are resolved at this level and typically have a shorter response and resolution time.
Final Appeal Process
If a student’s accommodation request has been denied through the primary appeal process, the student may formally appeal the decision by requesting a final review by the ADA/504 Coordinator. While the ADA/504 Coordinator engages in this process, consultation with the Goldman Center staff members and other Tulane departments may occur on a need-to-know basis.
To initiate a final appeal, students must submit a written personal statement via email to the ADA/504 Coordinator that includes (1) the specific accommodation that you are appealing; (2) the basis of your appeal; (3) a description of your concerns; (4) the resolution you are seeking; and (5) a written statement indicating consent to release all relevant information and documentation from the Goldman Center to the ADA/504 Coordinator. The written personal statement should be emailed to the ADA/504 Coordinator within 30 days of the primary appeal decision.
Once the student submits the final appeal request, the ADA/504 Coordinator will schedule an in-person meeting with to discuss your appeal. After meeting with the student and reviewing the existing documentation, the ADA/504 Coordination will issue a determination in writing to the student via Tulane email.
The decision of the ADA/504 Coordinator is final and not subject to further appeal.
Contact Information
Goldman Center for Student Accessibility
Jessica Machado, Director
Howard Tilton Memorial Library (Building #60), Suite B25
7001 Freret Street
New Orleans, LA 70118
Phone: (504) 862-8433
Email: goldman@tulane.edu
Website: https://accessibility.tulane.edu/
Office for Campus Accessibility
Sydney Cone, ADA/504 Coordinator
Howard Tilton Memorial Library (Building #60), Suite B25
7001 Freret Street
New Orleans, LA 70118
Phone: (504) 247-1774
Email: adaaccess@tulane.edu
Website: https://adaaccess.tulane.edu/
