Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on disability in programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance. Section 504 helps ensure that students with disabilities have equal access to opportunities and benefits, such as in educational institutions.
If you have received a denial from Disability Services or the Assistant Vice President for Employee and Labor Relations, you can appeal that denial here:
504 Appeal Process
If you plan to appeal a denial of a requested accommodation, we encourage you to file an appeal as soon as possible. The appeal process begins with completing the Accommodation Denial Form. This will connect you with Shannon Lynch, Assistant Vice President for Compliance, who has been appointed as Mount Holyoke College’s 504 Coordinator. The 504 Coordinator is not part of the accommodation request or determination process.
Upon receiving your appeal, the 504 Coordinator will contact you to schedule a meeting regarding your request. The 504 Coordinator will confirm that your accommodation was denied and will begin the appellate process. The 504 Coordinator will meet with you to receive information and will request permission to access your file, any documentation, and any other related information that the College may have for review.
Any new documentation gained by the appellant should be directed to Disability Services or the Assistant Vice President for Employee and Labor Relations. If new documentation is brought up during the appeals process, the appeals process will be remanded to the initial accommodation coordinator for review of the original determination.
Upon review of your file, the 504 Coordinator may follow-up with you or any other necessary members of our community to resolve any unanswered questions. This evaluation of your appeal will take place within 7 business days. The 504 Coordinator will remain as confidential as possible and practicable, and will only share information on a need-to-know basis.
After the 504 Coordinator’s evaluation is complete, they will contact you via email with a decision on your appeal. Disability Services or the Assistant Vice President for Employee and Labor Relations will simultaneously be notified of this decision via email. The 504 Coordinator will either overturn or uphold the Accommodation Coordinator’s decision. As accommodations are not retroactive, if the 504 Coordinator overturns a decision, the newly approved accommodation will not be applied retroactively. If the denial is upheld, there is no further appeal available after the 504 Coordinator’s decision.
The 504 Coordinator
The 504 Coordinator is responsible for addressing concerns regarding the College’s policies and compliance with the applicable laws, statutes, and regulations regarding disability accommodations.The 504 Coordinator also serves as the College’s liaison to external disability compliance agencies. The 504 Coordinator can be reached at section504coordinator@mtholyoke.edu or 413-538-2273.