Cornell is committed to ensuring that the programs, services, and activities of the university are accessible and that accommodations are effective for students with disabilities. 

Our university complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Fair Housing Act, and New York State Human Rights Law to ensure that otherwise qualified students with disabilities are not discriminated against on the basis of their disabilities and that they are not excluded from or denied the benefits of our programs and services. 

If you have concerns about your registration for disability services, the way in which your accommodations have been provided, or that you have been discriminated against because of a disability, you should take the following steps:

Informal Process

• Consult the SDS Director regarding concerns about disability accommodations, disparate or disparaging treatment related to disability, or access issues on campus. Share steps taken to resolve the issue and additional considerations to address your concerns and potential resolutions.
• Attempts to resolve the matter informally should be completed within 60 days of the time at which you knew, or could reasonably be expected to have known, of the action(s) in question.
• If you opt to pursue an informal resolution to your issue and are not satisfied with the outcome, you may later pursue a formal grievance.

Formal Process

Students who believe they have been discriminated against and wish to seek a formal resolution should use Policy 6.4, Prohibited Bias, Discrimination, Harassment, and Sexual and Related Misconduct. The policy is administered by the Office of Institutional Equity and Title IX.

Additional Resources for Resolving Complaints

The Office of the University Ombudsman is available to all students, faculty, and staff affiliated with all units of Cornell University, excluding the Weill Cornell Medical College. The office is an independent, neutral, and informal resource that offers a safe place where community members may discuss problems or issues within the University. The Ombudsman holds all communications with those seeking assistance in strict confidence, and does not disclose confidential communications unless given permission to do so, except as required by law, or where, in the judgment of the Ombudsman, there appears to be imminent risk of serious harm. 

At any time a student has the right to submit a complaint to the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights or the New York State Division of Human Rights.