Disability Services

Registration

Students seeking reasonable accommodations or support services from Disability Services are required to register with the office. This does not occur automatically upon enrollment at Columbia University. Services from high school or from previous colleges do not necessarily “follow the student” to Columbia.

Undergraduate Students

The Disability Services registration process includes the following steps for undergraduate students:

1. Submit a completed Undergraduate Application for Accommodations and Services
    
2. Submit disability documentation verifying the need for accommodations and the student’s disability status. If eligibility for services is determined after a review of the documentation and application, Disability Services will make recommendations for reasonable accommodations. View all Documentation Guidelines.

3. Attend a Disability Services orientation session. Students are required to meet with a Disability Services coordinator to review the policies and procedures regarding the provision of reasonable accommodations. This meeting will help to familiarize students with Disability Services and to facilitate the accommodations process. Upon completion of review of the student's disability documentation and accommodation requests, Disability Services will contact the student to schedule the orientation session.

4. Notify professors. During the first few weeks of each new semester, students are required to present Disability Services Accommodation Letters to each of their professors. These letters include Disability Services recommendations for reasonable accommodations for the student. Each professor will review the Disability Services recommendations, and either agree to implement the recommended accommodations or request consultation with Disability Services to determine alternative accommodations that are a better fit for the course. The professor signs the accommodation letter and the student returns the signed letter to Disability Services.
    
5. After students have completed the registration process, requests for additional accommodations can be made to Disability Services at any time. Students must submit the Request for Supplemental Accommodations. Additional disability documentation may be required if previously submitted disability documentation does not provide sufficient support for the requested accommodation. Students will be informed by their coordinator if additional documentation is needed. Reviews of requests for supplemental accommodations may take up to three weeks.

Please note that there are policies and procedures for the provision of specific accommodations, including note-taking services, testing accommodations, and sign-language interpreting services and speech-to-text services.

Graduate Students

1. Submit a completed Graduate Application for Accommodations and Services
2. Submit disability documentation verifying the need for accommodations and the student’s disability status. If eligibility for services is determined after a review of the documentation and application, Disability Services will make recommendations for reasonable accommodations. Disability Services will inform the student’s Disability Services Liaison of the recommended accommodations. View all Documentation Guidelines.
3. Attend a Disability Services Orientation Session. Students are required to meet with a Disability Services coordinator to review the policies and procedures regarding the provision of reasonable accommodations. This meeting will help to familiarize students with Disability Services and to facilitate the accommodations process.
4. Meet with an Disability Services Liaison. Disability Services Liaisons are designated Columbia faculty or staff from each school or academic program who work with Disability Services to coordinate accommodations for students with disabilities. During the first meeting, the Disability Services Liaison will review the protocols and procedures for receiving accommodations. Students are expected to adhere to the procedures at their respective schools in order to remain eligible for receiving accommodations.

After students have completed the registration process, requests for additional accommodations can be made to Disability Services at any time. Students must submit the Request for Supplemental Accommodations. Additional disability documentation may be required if previously submitted disability documentation does not provide sufficient support for the requested accommodation. Students will be informed by their coordinator if additional documentation is needed.

Please note: Reviews of requests for supplemental accommodations may take up to three weeks. 

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