If you believe you have been discriminated against for disability related reasons by any member of the CAL, if you are dissatisfied or disagree with the accommodations and/or support services recommended by the CAL, or if you have a complaint about the accommodations you are receiving, you have the right to seek a review of such concerns.

If you do not have an appeal to file with the CAL, but have a disability related grievance about a department, faculty or staff member at SFU, please see below for more information.

Process for Seeking an Appeal of a CAL Decision

Stage 1

Meet with the CAL staff member (most commonly the decision maker) to review your concerns. If an understanding cannot be reached at this level, or if the appeal is not acceptably resolved for all parties:

Stage 2

Arrange to meet with the Director of the CAL to review your concerns. Prior to meeting with the Director you will need to complete a form outlining your appeal.  The Director will review your submission and follow-up as necessary.   A written response to your appeal will be made.  If an understanding cannot be reached at this level, or if the appeal is not acceptably resolved for all parties:

Stage 3

Appeal to the Executive Director, Student Affairs. The Executive Director will review the form outlining your appeal, the response of the Unit or CAL Director, and make whatever further inquiry they deem necessary.  If the Executive Director is unable to reach an informal resolution with the student:

Stage 4

The Executive Director will seek a recommendation from an independent and qualified external third party who is mutually acceptable to you and the Executive Director. In the event that agreement on the third party cannot be reached, the matter will be referred to the Vice-Provost, Students & International. The Vice-Provost may consult as appropriate to determine the selection of the independent third party.

If you have a disability related grievance about a department, faculty or staff member at SFU, you are encouraged to:

Stage 1

Contact a Disability Access Advisor, who can provide advice about resolving the problem and/or serve as a mediator between you and the faculty, staff or department. Most situations are resolved through this informal process.  You might also consider speaking with the University Ombudsperson.  If the informal process is unsuccessful:

Stage 2

The student may file a written grievance with the chair or director of the department involved, stating the concern, the steps already taken to resolve the issue, the results of those steps and the requested resolution to the problem. If you are not satisfied with the response from the chair or head of the department:

Stage 3

An appeal can be made to the Dean of the associated Faculty.  

You may review the Human Rights and Equity Office's Guide for Students to the SFU Human Rights Policy, or the complete SFU Human Rights Policy.