Formal Student ADA Complaint Procedures

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Formal Student ADA Complaint Procedure

The University of Louisville has a continuing responsibility to monitor and maintain compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504) and their implementing regulations. Internal student complaints alleging non-compliance with the ADA and/or Section 504 should follow the following procedure.

The University’s formal complaint procedure provides for prompt and equitable resolution of complaints. Complaints should be directed to the ADA Office at 502-852-0769, or adacoord@louisville.edu.

Filing a formal complaint of disability discrimination

A complaint must be filed in writing with the ADA Office. The complaint should contain the following:

  • full name of the person filing the complaint (Complainant)
  • email address of the Complainant
  • description of the alleged violation (i.e., who, what, when, and where)

Upon receipt of the written complaint, the ADA Office or designee will confirm receipt of the complaint within five (5) business days.

A complaint must be filed within 180 days after the Complainant is aware of the alleged violation. A complaint filed after 180 days may be investigated in accordance with this procedure as necessary, in the judgment of the ADA Office, to ensure the University’s compliance with the ADA and/or Section 504.

The complaint procedure may take 60 business days[1]. In the event of extenuating circumstances that may (e.g. availability conflicts of involved parties or key witnesses, family emergency of investigative staff, etc.) prevent completion of the investigation and determination process within 60 business days, the Complainant and any individually named Respondent(s), if any, will be notified in writing and will be kept apprised of the status of the ADA Office’s handling of the complaint through resolution.

An investigation, as may be appropriate, will follow the filing of a complaint. The ADA Office will conduct the investigation. This administrative complaint procedure involves an informal and thorough investigation, affording parties involved, if any, an opportunity to submit information relevant to the complaint.

Following completion of the investigation, a written determination as to the validity of the complaint and a description of the resolution, if any, will be issued by the ADA Office. The Complainant and any individually named Respondent(s), if any, will be provided the written determination within 60 business days of the date the complaint was filed.

In all disputes arising under Section 504 and/or the ADA the proper standard of proof is preponderance of the information (i.e., more likely than not that the violation alleged in the complaint is true).

The ADA Office’s will maintain the case management file(s) and record(s) of the complaints.

[1] The complaint procedure encompasses the ADA Office receiving the formal complaint, conducting the investigation, as appropriate, and the issuance of a written determination.

Requesting Reconsideration of a Determination

The Complainant and any individually named Respondent, if any, and as appropriate, may request a reconsideration. The written request for reconsideration must be made within 15 business days to the ADA Office.

Requests for reconsideration must present information showing that:

  1. the original determination applied the incorrect standard; or
  2. applied the applicable standard incorrectly to the facts of the case; or
  3. new information that might affect the outcome of the determination that was not available at the time of the original determination and that is now available and should be considered.

The ADA Office will provide a written response to the reconsideration request within 15 business days. In the event of extenuating circumstances that may prevent the completion of the reconsideration process, the Complainant, and any individually named Respondent(s), if any, will be notified in writing and kept apprised of the status of the ADA Office’s handling of the reconsideration.

Other remedies

The right of a Complainant to a prompt and equitable resolution of the complaint filed hereunder does not impair the Complainant’s pursuit of other remedies such as the filing of a discrimination complaint with the responsible federal department or agency. Use of this complaint procedure is not a prerequisite to the pursuit of other remedies, nor does one’s pursuit of outside remedies preclude one’s filing a complaint pursuant to this procedure.

This method is employed to address due process standards and to demonstrate the university’s compliance with the ADA, Section 504, and their implementing regulations.

Revised May 2025