Accessibility Services

Grievance & Appeals Process

Lourdes strives to ensure equal access to programs and facilities, provide reasonable and appropriate auxiliary services, and improve the understanding and support of the campus community

Grievance & Appeals Process

Section 504/ADA Grievance Procedure

Lourdes has adopted an internal grievance procedure providing for prompt and equitable resolution of complaints alleging any action prohibited by the Office of Civil Rights regulations implementing Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990.

Section 504 states, in part, that "no otherwise qualified handicapped individual…shall solely by reason of a handicap, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to the discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal assistance… "The ADA extends this guarantee to the private sector."

Complaints should be addressed to:
Vice President for Finance and Administration
Lourdes University
6832 Convent Blvd.
Sylvania, OH 43560

The Vice President for Finance and Administration has agreed to coordinate Section 504/ADA compliance efforts. The U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights Regulations states that within 10 working days after the complainant becomes aware of the alleged violation that has not been resolved, a subsequent appeal to the Vice President for Student Services should be filed.

The complaint should:

Be filed in writing or verbally
Contain the name and address of the person filing it
Briefly describe the alleged violation of the regulations

An investigation, as may be appropriate, will follow the filing of a complaint and will be conducted by the Compliance Officer. The period of investigation gives persons and the representatives, if any, an opportunity to submit evidence relevant to the complaint. A written determination as to the validity of the complaint and description of the resolution, if any, shall be issued by the section 504/ADA Compliance Officer, and a copy of the determination will be forwarded to the complainant no later than 15 working days after its filing. The Section 504/ADA Compliance Officer shall maintain the files and records of Lourdes relating to the complaints filed. The right of a person to a prompt and equitable resolution of the complaint filed shall not be impaired by the person’s pursuit of other remedies such as the filing of a Section 504/ADA complaint with the responsible federal department or agency, such as:

Regional Office XII
Michigan Ohio Office for Civil Rights, Cleveland Office
U.S. Department of Education
600 Superior Avenue East Bank One Center, Room 750
Cleveland, Ohio 44114-2611
Phone: 216-522-4970
Fax: 216-522-2573
TDD: 816-891-0582

Utilization of this grievance procedure may be a prerequisite to the pursuit of other remedies. These rules are designed to protect the rights of interested persons, to meet appropriate due process standards, and to assure that Lourdes complied with Section 504/ADA and the implementing regulations.

Appeals Process

If you disagree with the academic adjustments as established with the Director of Accessibility Services, you may appeal those academic adjustments to the Vice President for Student Services.

If you continue to disagree with the decision, you may appeal the decision by filing a complaint no later than 180 days from the date of the alleged violation with the Lourdes Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Compliance Officer, who is also the Section 504 Compliance Officer.

This appeals process provides for the prompt and equitable resolution of complaints. If your complaint is not resolved to your satisfaction within 60 days of filing, you or your representative may file a complaint with the U.