How to write a disability discrimination complaint letter
By going through the formal complaint process, Caprice was able to change university policies for future disabled students. She shares her top tips for writing a complaint letter and shares her own template letter.
Check your university’s complaints procedure
Most procedures have three different stages.
Stage one
Informal Complaint (for example, trying to resolve the matter by talking to your course leader/student services, or sending an email to any party involved).
Stage two
Submit a Formal Complaint. You should be able to submit your complaint through your university’s website, where you can also upload your letter and supporting evidence.
Stage three
Your university should explain what happens at stage three, in their complaint’s procedure. When I went to stage three, my university’s secretary handled my complaint, but every university is different!
Top tips for writing your complaint letter
- Never be brief! Go into as much detail as you possibly can.
- Don’t be afraid. Writing a complaint letter can feel scary (trust me, I know). You deserve to be heard and complain about the things that you are entitled to have as a disabled student.
- If you are invited to a meeting to discuss your complaint, don’t be intimidated. You can also bring someone with you for support.
- Prior to your meeting, write down notes so you don’t forget anything.
- Make sure you have a pen and pad to take notes in your meeting.
- If you don’t get the reasonable adjustments, you require from your first complaint letter – keep going! Your university will have another stage, where you can take your complaint even further.
- Remember, you’re never alone in what you’re going through. I’ve been there. It will feel tiring and draining to re-live everything, but you’ve got this.
