4/10 Advocacy in Action: Fighting for Accessibility at Duke

This meeting builds directly off our conversation about the SDAO — moving from frustration to action. We’ll talk about how to advocate within Duke’s system, how to mobilize as a community

This week, DNA is breaking down what few students ever get told: what you can actually do when Duke fails to meet your accessibility needs. We’ll unpack how the Student Disability Access Office (SDAO) fits into the system, where its authority stops, and how to navigate the university’s complicated appeal and grievance process.

What we’ll cover:.

• What to do if your professor refuses or limits your accommodation (like absence flexibility or exam extensions).

• How to document denial, escalation, and communication for protection.

• How to submit formal grievances and when to involve the Office for Institutional Equity (OIE).

• What legal protections (ADA, Section 504) look like in real terms for Duke students.