10th annual CUNY Accessibility Conference

Equal access and opportunity

CUNY is deeply committed to ensuring equal access and opportunity for students with disabilities through innovative support programs, grounded in nationally regarded best practices in postsecondary disability services which support the academic success and personal development of students with disabilities. Towards this end, each CUNY campus features an Office of Disability Services, managed by a director who coordinates the provision of reasonable accommodations and support services for students with disabilities. Students’ needs for reasonable accommodations and support services are verified by these offices. They also provide counseling and referrals, and arrange crucial auxiliary aids and services, including assistive technology services, note takers, readers, sign language interpreter services, distance learning networks, priority registration, and alternative testing arrangements.

What’s New

LEADS Online Learning:
LEADS Q&A with LEADS student Alumni

Thursday, November 17, 2022
4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Read more >

CUNY Unlimited Application

The application period for Fall 2023 is open!
The deadline to apply is December 1st.

Read more >

Programs & Services

About

CUNY LEADS is a unique academic and career program for students with disabilities at the City University of New York. This exciting program is free of charge for all eligible candidates and available on all CUNY campuses.

Mission

CUNY LEADS is a unique program designed to prepare CUNY students with disabilities to make realistic academic and career choices and develop the skills that will result in successful career outcomes.

Vision

LEADS will establish itself as a national best practices model. It will serve as a training resource for the development of programs that prepare students with disabilities for realistic and successful employment outcomes.

Services

If eligible, LEADS can assist students with the following services:

  • Career and academic guidance and skills for job search and retention
  • Enhanced employment opportunities
  • Referral assistance with ACCES/VR
  • Academic advisement
  • Career counseling
  • Resume preparation
  • Interview preparation
  • Internship preparation
  • Job seeking assistance
  • Job placement assistance
  • Advocacy skills
  • Referral assistance with ACCES-VR

News & Events

LEADS Online Learning:

LEADS Q&A with LEADS student Alumni

Thursday, November 17, 2022
4:00 PM – 5:30 PM

RSVP : https://bit.ly/3FGEHSR

LOL NOVEMBER 2022

Advisors

Baruch College

Sydacia Bunbury
LEADS Advisor

Office of Services for Students with Disabilities
Sydacia.Bunbury@baruch.cuny.edu

Borough of Manhattan Community College

Jessica Spalter
LEADS Advisor

Center for Career Development
Jspalter@bmcc.cuny.edu

Brooklyn College

Nelmy Pichardo
LEADS Advisor

Center for Student Disability Services
Nelmy.Pichardo62@brooklyn.cuny.edu

College of Staten Island

Lisette Munoz
LEADS Advisor

Center for Student Accessibility
Lisette.Munoz@csi.cuny.edu

Guttman Community College

Maryanne Sackarnoski
LEADS Advisor

Office of Student Engagement
Maryanne.Sackarnoski@guttman.cuny.edu

Hostos Community College

Simone Sylvester
LEADS Advisor

Office of Disability Services
Ssylvester@hostos.cuny.edu

Hunter College

James Poyerd
LEADS Advisor

Office of AccessABILITY
JPoyerd@hunter.cuny.edu
LEADS@hunter.cuny.edu

John Jay College

Farrukh Ablakulov
LEADS Advisor

Office of Accessibility Services
FAblakulov@jjay.cuny.edu

Kingsborough Community College

Nicholas Giampetruzzi
LEADS Advisor

Access-Ability Center
Nicholas.Giampetruzzi@kbcc.cuny.edu

Lehman College

Gabriella Kohler
LEADS Advisor

Office of Student Disability Services
Gabriella.Kohler@lehman.cuny.edu

Medgar Evers College

Paula Whitney Best, M.A., J.D.
LEADS Advisor

Office of Services for the Differently-Abled
Pwbest@mec.cuny.edu

New York City College of Technology

Linda Rivera
LEADS Advisor

Office of Student Support Services
Lrivera@citytech.cuny.edu

Queens College

Kristina Aranbayeva, M.A.
LEADS Advisor

Office of Career Development and Internships
Karanbayeva@qc.cuny.edu

Queensborough Community College

Sheryl Sobel
LEADS Advisor

Services for Students with Disabilities
Ssobel@qcc.cuny.edu

The City College of New York

Patricia Bianchi
LEADS Advisor

AccessAbility Center
Pbianchi@ccny.cuny.edu

York College

Truett L. Vaigneur, Jr., M.S. Ed.
LEADS Advisor

Services for Students with Disabilities
tvaigneur@york.cuny.edu

FAQ

1. What is CUNY LEADS?

CUNY LEADS is a unique academic and career program for students with disabilities at the City University of New York (CUNY).

2. Who may be eligible for LEADS?

CUNY students with disabilities who are currently registered in:

  • Degree and Non Degree Programs
  • Adult and Continuing Education
  • Allied Programs

Students do not have to be registered with the campus disabilities office to qualify for LEADS.

3. What makes someone eligible?

A student may be considered eligible providing they meet the following requirements:

  • The presence of a documented disability
  • The understanding that this disability creates an impairment to employment
  • The expectation that with services, this person will be able to obtain employment.

4. What services can be provided if I am eligible?

Example of services may include:

  • Academic advisement
  • Career counseling
  • Resume preparation
  • Interview preparation
  • Internship assistance
  • Job seeking assistance
  • Advocacy skills
  • Referral assistance with ACCES/VR

All services are free and confidential.

5. What if I am already registered with ACCES/VR?

If you have an open case with ACCES/VR, you are eligible to receive CUNY LEADS services. You may meet with your campus LEADS advisor to get registered or ask your ACCES/VR counselor to connect you with your campus advisor.

6. Can LEADS really help me to get a job?

  • CUNY LEADS Advisors work with LEADS Placement Advisors to connect students with internship and job opportunities they may not otherwise have access to.
  • Advisors provide support in job-seeking and skill development and address unique disability-related challenges that may affect your ability to obtain employment.
  • You will have access to workshop and individualized assistance regarding resumes, interviews, and finding and maintaining employment.
  • Once you are employed, the LEADS counselor will continue to maintain contact to provide support while you are adjusting to your new job.

For Employers

CUNY LEADS links employers throughout the New York City area to qualified students with disabilities from across the CUNY network of 25 campuses. Our students have a wide range of employment interests, academic majors, and skills, and CUNY LEADS Job Developers located in each borough track all students ready for employment to connect with employers. In addition, LEADS has a Neurodiversity Job Developer who focuses on finding opportunities for students on the autism spectrum.

CUNY LEADS can provide:

  • A pool of qualified, prescreened job candidates from twenty-four CUNY colleges who are prepared for the workforce
  • A talented group of intern candidates with diverse fields of interests and majors
  • Assistance with accommodation solutions.

Connect With LEADS

Our Job Developers have formed relationships with many businesses and service providers to streamline the referral pipeline for open positions. Contact the Job Developer in your borough, or reach out to all, to set up a process that works best for your organization.

Presentations & Events

The CUNY LEADS team is happy to work with businesses and service providers on preparing their employees with disability etiquette presentations or setting up events for recruitment and connecting with potential candidates.

Past Events

  • Mock Interviews
  • Resume Review
  • Job Fair
  • Disability 101 (for employees)
cuny leads 70 jobs at 70 companies graphic

Introducing 70 for 70

Both nationally and in New York State, disability employment rates lag behind those of the general population. With CUNY LEADS, we’re proud to report that 70% of our students have found employment within a year of completing their studies. Toward this end of continuing to strive for 70% employment, CUNY LEADS is launching 70 for 70, a celebration of 70 competitive positions at top companies earned by LEADS students.

Introducing 70 for 70 flyer

About

Project REACH: Resources and Education on Autism as CUNY’s Hallmark is a university-wide project funded by the FAR Fund created to enhance CUNY’s capacity to support its growing population of autistic college students and to educate faculty and staff about autism.

At the core of CUNY’s mission is to provide affordable and accessible higher education opportunities to all students, especially those who have historically not had access to higher education opportunities — like autistic students.

Project REACH Campuses

  • Borough of Manhattan Community College
  • Brooklyn College
  • College of Staten Island
  • Hunter College
  • Kingsborough Community College
  • LaGuardia Community College
  • Queens College

Grant Project For Students With Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

Project REACH as CUNY’s Hallmark – an Autism Initiative at City University of New York:REACH is a project developed at City University of New York (CUNY) to build capacity to better serve the growing population of college students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Since CUNY students operate within a complex web of people and structures, the program aims to educate faculty and staff about students with ASD. Read More About the Grant Project

Students with ASD are among the fastest growing populations of college students. CUNY expects its population of students with ASD to grow exponentially over the next few years. CUNY’s mission is to provide affordable and accessible higher education opportunities to ALL New Yorkers, especially those who have historically not had access to higher education opportunities, like students on the autism spectrum. Inclusive higher education is the next great civil rights movement, and CUNY wants to lead this movement by cultivating a University environment that promotes the success and full participation of students with ASD.

An investment by the FAR Fund empowers CUNY to develop and implement a replicable programming model on its campuses to increase the quality and quantity of supports to students with ASD at CUNY in order to improve the quality of their college experience, their persistence, and their degree attainment. At the same time, it will affect the University’s culture through education on the higher educational needs of this rapidly increasing student population. As part of the planning process, we will formulate specific strategies about what services/activities to provide; to whom they should be provided; who should provide the services, when they should be provided. Planning grant activities include creating an Advisory Board and gathering information about supports/activities for CUNY students with ASD; identifying Implementation panel to guide project staff on implementation, questions and issues; selecting specific CUNY schools to develop and model best practices; identifying activities for the training of staff of offices for students with disabilities on ASD; and identifying methods to involve CUNY faculty in training activities.

Campus Contacts

Borough of Manhattan Community College

Progressing Autism Spectrum Services

Vida Fletcher
Phone: 212-220-8246
Email: vfletcher@bmcc.cuny.edu

Brooklyn College

Collaborative Autism Spectrum Program

Valerie Stewart-Lovell
Phone: 718-951-5538
Email: vstewart@brooklyn.cuny.edu

College of Staten Island

Building Bridges Initiative

Kristen Gillespie-Lynch
Email: Kristen.gillespie@csi.cuny.edu

Hunter College

Project REACH @ Hunter

Suzette DePasquale
Email: sd738@hunter.cuny.edu

Kingsborough Community College

Transitions to College Support

Dr. Stella Woodroffe
Phone: 718-368-5175
Email: stella.woodroffe@kbcc.cuny.edu

LaGuardia Community College

Academic and Social Student Integration Team

Dr. Regina Varin-Mignano
Phone: 718-482-5260
Email: rvarin-mignano@lagcc.cuny.edu

Queens College

Project REACH @ Queens College

Dr. Sally Izquierdo
Email: Sally.Izquierdo@qc.cuny.edu

About

A Credential Program for Students with Intellectual Disabilities.

CUNY Unlimited is a credential program which expands access to the college experience for students with intellectual disabilities. By participating in classes alongside peers, developing skills for employment through internships, learning about self-advocacy, and becoming immersed in all of the activities that a college campus has to offer, CUNY Unlimited students are prepared for their next steps in life. After earning the credential, students may move on to employment or further their education in a credit-bearing degree ready to contribute to their communities in a meaningful way.

The Credential

Students accepted into the CUNY Unlimited program at a campus designated as an approved Comprehensive Transition Program (CTP) by the US Department of Education will be eligible to earn a CUNY Unlimited Credential in Academic and Career Studies, capturing their college experience in a way that is valuable to the student, their communities, and future employers. Students will participate in CUNY classes and experience college life while developing the skills to take on meaningful and productive roles in their communities. CTP status enables students to be eligible for federal financial aid.

Approved Comprehensive Transition Programs at CUNY as of September 2022:

  • Borough of Manhattan Community College
  • Hostos Community College

Program Campuses

  • Borough of Manhattan Community College
  • College of Staten Island
  • Hostos Community College
  • Kingsborough Community College
  • Queens College
  • Queensborough Community College (new for Fall 2023)

News & Events

CUNY Unlimited Application

The application deadline for Fall 2023 admission is December 1, 2022

Fall 2023 Application

CUNY Unlimited Information Sheet

FAQ

What is CUNY Unlimited?
CUNY Unlimited is an inclusive college experience at a City University of New York campus where young adults who have traditionally not had the opportunity to participate in higher education can learn alongside peers and prepare for employment. Through fulfillment of the credential requirements, students can earn a CUNY Unlimited Achievement Certificate.

Who is a good candidate for CUNY Unlimited?
Most importantly, a good candidate has a strong desire to have a college experience. Students will be participating in inclusive college courses, work experiences, and co-curricular activities. Past students have been most successful when they are self-motivated.

Who is eligible to apply?
CUNY Unlimited is for young adults with intellectual disabilities. The eligibility requirements vary by campus program.
Borough of Manhattan Community College, College of Staten Island, Hostos Community College, Kingsborough Community College, Queensborough Community College: Supports provided by AHRC NYC Melissa Riggio Program
Students applying to these four campuses must be age 21 and older, eligible for OPWDD services, and reside in the borough of the campus.
Queens College: Supports provided by District 75 of the NYC Department of Education
Students applying for the Queens College program must be age 18-21, currently enrolled in the NYC DOE, and participating in alternate assessment. Emphasis is placed on student motivation to learn on a college campus and prepare for employment.

How long is the program?
Depending on the campus, students may earn the Credential in Academic and Career Studies in two to three years, with an optional alumni year to be added in the future.

What are the credential requirements?
Each student in the CUNY Unlimited program will participate in inclusive courses, work experiences, and co-curricular activities. Credential requirements are designed to be flexible to allow for student-directed pathways in each of these areas.

How can I apply?
The application deadline for Fall 2023 admission is December 1, 2022. Download the application PDF on this page for full instructions.

2nd Annual CUNY Neurodiversity Conference 2019

2022 CUNY Neurodiversity Conference

As part of CUNY’s leading role in the movement to provide expanded access and services to neurodiverse students on the college campus, the Central Office of Student Affairs Disability Programs hosts the annual CUNY Neurodiversity Conference each year in March. CUNY’s two signature neurodiversity initiatives, Project REACH and CUNY Unlimited, join with stakeholders to share best practices for supporting students while they’re in college and during transitions to and from campus.

Registration is now open for the 2022 CUNY Neurodiversity Conference!

Intersectionality: Honoring the Whole Self to
Transform How We See Ourselves & Others

Keynote Speaker Eric Garcia
Eric is an autistic journalist and author of the recent book, “We’re Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation”

Join us on Thursday and Friday March 17th-18, 2022 for the fourth CUNY Neurodiversity Conference, where speakers, self-advocates, and scholars in the field will come together to address the important topic of intersectionality and neurodiversity.

Click Here for Agenda Preview

Register at https://tinyurl.com/cunynd2022

About

Supported Higher Education Services for Neurodiverse Students at CUNY.

In partnership with ACCES-VR, LEADS Plus is being piloted at five CUNY campuses:

  • Bronx Community College
  • College of Staten Island
  • Guttman Community College
  • Kingsborough Community College
  • Queensborough Community College

LEADS Plus contributes to success in academics and preparation for work via a soft-skills curriculum, individualized executive functioning support, and other pre-employment competencies through a dedicated CUNY LEADS Plus Advisor, who has a small caseload of only up to 20 students per semester.

Who is Eligible for Services?

  • Must be approved for ACCES-VR services
  • If approved by ACCES-VR, student must then be approved by ACCES-VR counselor for CUNY LEADS Plus services
  • ”Neurodiverse” is interpreted broadly– includes any cognitive disabilities where students would benefit from additional support in the areas of interpersonal skills and executive functioning
  • CUNY LEADS Plus is uniquely situated to serve high needs students who would otherwise struggle in a college environment, but with the right support can persist and succeed in reaching their career goals.

Do you have a learning disability, psychological disability, or are on the autism spectrum?

Do you struggle to stay organized and connected to resources at CUNY to get through classes and work toward your future career goals?

LEADS Plus may be for you!

development icon

Self-Discovery

Students set their goals, learn to advocate for themselves to achieve them, and determine how they will get there with their Advisor

GROWTH ICON

Track Progress

Advisors work with students to track progress toward goals in areas including Interpersonal Skills/Networking, Advocacy, Career Exploration

Congrats icon

Prepare for Work

Students are coached through the job/internship discovery and search process, and on-the-job skill development

For More Information Contact

Bronx Community College

Maria Pantoja
Maria.Pantoja@bcc.cuny.edu

College of Staten Island

Bethany LaLonde
Bethany.LaLonde@csi.cuny.edu

Guttman Community College

Crystal Vasquez
Crystal.Vazquez@guttman.cuny.edu

Kingsborough Community College

Nicholas Giampetruzzi
Nicholas.Giampetruzzi@kbcc.cuny.edu

Queensborough Community College

Leonard Blades
LBlades@qcc.cuny.edu

CUNY Assistive Technology Services (CATS) is a team of assistive technology specialists that are located at Queensborough Community College. Their goal is to stay on the forefront of assistive technology and provide support for those technologies used by students with disabilities who attend the various CUNY campuses.

CUNY Students
Baruch College gray logo

Baruch College

Student Disability Services at Baruch
Baruch Way (Vertical Campus)
Room 2-271 (within suite 2-225)
New York, NY 10010
646-312-4590
disability.services@baruch.cuny.edu

Borough of Manhattan Community College logo gray

Borough of Manhattan Community College

Office of Accessibility at BMCC
199 Chambers Street
Room N 360
New York, NY 10007
212-220-8180
accessibility@bmcc.cuny.edu

Bronx CC gray logo

Bronx Community College

Office of Disability Services at BCC
West 181st St. & University Avenue
Loew Hall, Room 213
Bronx, NY 10453
718-289-5874
disabilityservices@bcc.cuny.edu

Brooklyn College gray logo

Brooklyn College

Center for Student Disability Services at Brooklyn College
138 Roosevelt Hall
Brooklyn, NY 11210
718-951-5538
testingcsds@brooklyn.cuny.edu

College of Staten Island gray logo

College of Staten Island

Center for Student Accessibility at CSI
2800 Victory Boulevard
Room 1P-101
Staten Island, NY 10314
718-982-2510
csa@csi.cuny.edu

The City College

The AccessAbility Center/Student Disability Services at CCNY
North Academic Center (NAC)
Room 1/218
160 Convent Avenue
New York, NY 10031
212-650-5913
disabilityservices@ccny.cuny.edu

Gray CUNY Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism logo

Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY

Student Services at the Newmark J-School
219 W. 40th Street
New York, NY 10018
646-758-7726
anthony.laviscount@journalism.cuny.edu

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Guttman Community College

Office of AccessABILITY at Guttman
50 W. 40TH Street
Room 506 A
New York, NY 10018
646-313-8812
accessabilityservices@guttman.cuny.edu

CUNY School of Professional Studies

Office of Accessibility at SPS
119 W. 31st Street
4th Floor
New York, NY 10001
646-664-8616
disabilityservices@sps.cuny.edu

Gray CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy logo

CUNY School of Public Health & Health Policy

Student Disability Services at SPH
55 W. 125th Street
New York, NY 10027
646-364-9770
accessibility@sph.cuny.edu

Gray CUNY School of Law logo

CUNY School of Law

Services for Students with Disabilities at CUNY School of Law
2 Court Square,
Room 5-115
Long Island City, NY 11101
718-340-4380
kennedy@law.cuny.edu

Graduate Center

Student Disability Services at the Graduate Center
365 Fifth Avenue
Room 7301
New York, NY 10016
212–817-7400
disabilityservices@gc.cuny.edu

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The CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies (SLU)

Accessibility/Disability Services
25 West 43rd Street, 19th Floor
New York, NY 10036
646-313-8321
accessibility@slu.cuny.edu

Hostos Community College

Hostos Community College

Accessibility Resource Center (ARC) at Hostos
500 Grand Concourse, R-Savoy 101L
Bronx, NY 10451
718-518-4263
arc@hostos.cuny.edu

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Hunter College

Office of AccessABILITY at Hunter
695 Park Avenue, E1124
New York, NY 10021
212-772-4857
accessABILITY@hunter.cuny.edu

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John Jay College of Criminal Justice

Office of Accessibility Service at John Jay
524 West 59th Street
Room Room L.66.00
New York, NY 10019
212-237-8031
accessibilityservices@jjay.cuny.edu

Kingsborough Community College logo

Kingsborough Community College

Access-Ability Services at Kingsborough
2001 Oriental Boulevard
Room D-205
Brooklyn, NY 11235
718-368-5175
aas@kbcc.cuny.edu

LaGuardia Community College gray logo

LaGuardia Community College

Office for Students with Disabilities at LAGCC
31-10 Thomson Avenue
M Building, Room M120
Long Island City, NY 11101
718-482-5279
OSD@lagcc.cuny.edu

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Lehman College

Students Disability Services at Lehman
250 Bedford Park Blvd West
Schuster Hall, Room 238
Bronx, NY 10468
718-960-8441
TTY: 718-960-8931
Disability.Services@Lehman.cuny.edu

Medgar Evers College gray logo

Medgar Evers College

Office of Accessibility and Accommodations Services
1650 Bedford Avenue, Room 1011
Brooklyn, NY 11225
718-270-5027
aphifer@mec.cuny.edu

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New York City College of Technology

The Center for Student Accessibility at City Tech
300 Jay Street
Atrium Building 237 (A-237)
Brooklyn, NY 11201
718-260-5143
TTY: 718-260-5443
jcurrie@citytech.cuny.edu

Queens College gray logo

Queens College

Special Services for Students with Disabilities at Queens College
65-30 Kissena Boulevard, Kiley 171
Flushing, NY 11367
718-997-5870
QC.SPSV@qc.cuny.edu​

Queensborough Community College gray logo

Queensborough Community College

Services for Students with Disabilities at QCC
222-05 56th Avenue
Room S132
Bayside, NY 11364
718-631-6257
ssd@qcc.cuny.edu

York College gray logo

York College

Center for Students with Disabilities at York College
94-20 Guy R. Brewer Boulevard
Room AC-1G02
Jamaica, NY 11451
718-262-2191
csd@york.cuny.edu

Frequently Asked Questions

Student FAQ

Yes, all CUNY schools have either an office or designee responsible for coordinating services for students with disabilities.

According to section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, an individual with a disability is a person who 1) has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more life activities: or 2) has a record of such impairment; or 3) is regarded as having such impairment.

To discuss eligibility and available services, schedule an appointment with the office or designee responsible for coordinating services for students with disabilities on your campus.

To discuss available services, schedule an appointment with the student disability service provider on your campus and bring documentation of your disability.

You should discuss your current documentation and your needs with the disability service provider on your campus or the campus which you intend to enroll.

No, all students enrolled in classes are eligible. The City University of New York is committed to providing all students equal access to campus programs. This includes certificate, associate, baccalaureate and graduate degree programs.

During the initial meeting, the documentation you provide is reviewed to determine the extent to which your disability limits or restricts you in the academic setting. Your campus student disability service provider will work with you to identify which accommodations and support services are reasonable and appropriate.

Participation is voluntary and some students do not request assistance in meeting their needs on campus. Other students may not need accommodations for every class or every semester for which they enroll. And some other students may have disabilities which do not limit access to educational opportunities at CUNY. Decisions regarding specific accommodations are made by the coordinator based on documentation and need.

No, you should only have to disclose your specific disability to the office or designee responsible for coordinating services for students with disabilities on your campus, contact them if you have further questions.

If you find that the accommodations are not effective or they need to be modified in order to meet the unique demands of individualized courses, you should contact your campus disability service provider.

Situations are considered on a case-by-case basis because the impact of a given disability on each person can be totally different in its effect.

Faculty FAQ

Students will self-identify their disability status and their affiliation with the campus’ disability services office. Students should present you with a letter from the campus’ disability services office that verifies their need for accommodations and explains exactly what types of accommodations they will need in your course.

Sometimes students with disabilities first disclose to their professors. When this happens, you should refer students to the campus disability services office.

Accommodations/academic adjustments are reasonable modifications to programs, facilities, or curricula that ensure equal access and opportunity for students with disabilities. By definition, accommodations must be reasonable in nature and should not compromise course standards or fundamentally alter the curriculum.

Examples of reasonable accommodations include sign-language interpreters, extended time testing, assistive technology, and note-taking services.

Reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities are determined on an individual, case-by-case basis, according to documented need. Eligibility for accommodations is determined through a functional assessment of disability documentation in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section #504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Accommodations are determined by the professional staff in the disability services office in consultation with course instructors and other appropriate campus officials.

Professors are encouraged to speak to their campus disability services office should they have any concerns or questions regarding the appropriateness of reasonable accommodations.

No. Accommodations are intended to provide an equal opportunity for students with disabilities. As such, they are designed to “level the playing field” for students with disabilities. Students with disabilities are expected to meet the same standard as all other students. In particular, like all other students, students with disabilities must meet all University academic criteria and course technical standards.

Student disability information is protected by Family Education Rights Protection Act (FERPA) and must be held in the strictest confidence. Any public disclosure of a student’s disability is a violation of this law.

Please contact the disability services coordinator at your respective office to schedule an appointment. (Link to contact list)

All requests for classroom changes are processed by campus Offices of the Registrar. It should be noted that there are times when the location of your classroom has been selected to meet the accessibility needs of a student with a disability and classroom. Under these circumstances, relocation may be difficult to arrange.

Faculty should work closely with college disability services offices to address disruptive behavior that may be related to a student’s disability. Faculty should understand that while they are required to provide reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities, they are not required to tolerate behavior that is substantially disruptive to their ability to teach and to other students’ ability to learn. Indeed, students with disabilities should be held to the same code of conduct as all other members of the campus community.

No. Under copyright laws, students with disabilities are permitted to make one copy of copyrighted material in an accessible format for personal use.

Resources & Community

The following websites provide general information about a variety of disabilities. They are provided for information purposes only; their inclusion on this website does not imply an endorsement of any of the organizations authoring these sites.

Voter Registration

Under the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) of 1993, CUNY campus Offices of Services for Students with Disabilities are Agency-Based Registration Sites, where students are offered information, voter registration application forms and the opportunity to become registered voters.

For assistance or additional information at your campus.

Students on campus

Contact Us

CUNY Central Office of Student Inclusion Initiatives, Disability Programs
555 W. 57th Street
New York, NY 10019
Email: Disability@cuny.edu