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Independent Review Process

Procedures for DRC Independent Review of Student Accommodation Denials

Opportunity to Request a Review

Students who receive a written denial of accommodation request and believe there is a basis for review under the criteria listed below may request an independent review by emailing the DRC Executive Director or designee at drc-review@arizona.edu.

The independent review process is intended to ensure a fair, individualized reconsideration of the accommodation decision and compliance with applicable disability laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

Timeline for Submitting a Review Request

To ensure a timely and meaningful review process, requests for independent review must be submitted in writing within five (5) business days of the written denial.

Accommodations for Participation in the Review Process

Students requesting accommodations to participate in the DRC independent review process are encouraged to submit an accommodation request in advance of the review to drc-review@arizona.edu.

Grounds for a Review Request

To be eligible for independent review, the written request should identify one or more of the following grounds:

  1. The ADA-required interactive process was not fully conducted, or a procedural irregularity materially affected the accommodation determination.
  2. New and material documentation, information, or evidence has become available that was not available during the original interactive process and may affect the accommodation determination.
  3. The accommodation determination appears inconsistent with applicable law, university policy, or established standards governing reasonable accommodations.

Initial Review for Completeness

The Executive Director or designee will conduct a preliminary review to determine whether the request identifies at least one of the grounds for independent review listed above. If the request does not identify a sufficient basis for independent review, the student will be notified via email and informed of the deficiency. The student will have one (1) opportunity to submit a revised request addressing the identified deficiency within five (5) business days of the date of the notification.

Acceptance of the Review Request

If the request meets the criteria, the Executive Director or designee will notify the student, relevant DRC staff and any other university departments, as appropriate, and will initiate the review process.
If after being provided with an opportunity to revise or supplement the request, the request still does not meet the criteria for review; the request will be denied, and no further review will be conducted.

Gathering Materials Related to the Original Decision

To support a thorough review, the Access Consultant will be asked to share relevant materials within five (5) business days of notification, which may include:

  1. Documentation reviewed as part of the accommodation decision.
  2. Records related to the interactive process (such as communications with the student and others).
  3. The written rationale for the denial.
  4. Any additional relevant information.

DRC Independent Review

The Executive Director or designee will complete the review within ten (10) business days. The review may involve:

  1. Careful and impartial consideration of all submitted materials.
  2. An evaluation of whether the interactive process was conducted appropriately.
  3. An assessment of whether the requested accommodation is reasonable and does not create an undue hardship or fundamentally alter course or program requirements.
  4. Consultation with relevant departments, as appropriate, to support compliance with applicable laws.
  5. An in-person or virtual meeting with the student.

Confidentiality

All information shared as part of this process will be handled in accordance with applicable confidentiality requirements.

Decision Communication

Within ten (10) business days of completing the review, the Executive Director or designee will provide a written decision via email to the student and other appropriate university personnel.

The decision will include:

  1. The outcome of the review (approved, modified, or upheld).
  2. An explanation of the reasons for the decision.
  3. Any next steps or implementation details, if applicable.

Distribution of the Decision

The written decision will be shared with:

  1. The student.
  2. The Access Consultant.
  3. Other relevant university personnel, as appropriate and consistent with confidentiality requirements.

Finality of the Review

  1. The decision issued by the Executive Director or designee represents the last step in the DRC review process.
  2. If the original denial is upheld, the accommodation decision remains in effect as of the date of the decision letter.
  3. If the denial is modified or overturned, the university will promptly re-engage in the interactive process, as needed, and move forward with implementing the approved accommodation.

 

Effective: June 15, 2026