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.

News & Events

New Adaptive & Inclusive Sports page

With the recent addition of a wheelchair basketball team in 2022 and plans to expand into tennis, swimming, and track & field, CUNY is committed to fostering a diverse and vibrant athletic community that champions opportunity and inclusion for all student-athletes.

Explore the page

Visit our Events page

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM).

Explore more events

CUNY Accommodate

CUNY Accommodate

We’re proud to announce the Spring 2025 implementation of our new student disability management system, CUNY Accommodate.

This platform will streamline the management of requests for accommodations and services provided by Disability Services Offices (DSOs) on every campus.

Learn More

Programs & Services

CUNY LEADS

CUNY LEADS

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.

Project REACH & ADS

Project REACH & ASD

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.

CUNY Unlimited

CUNY Unlimited

CUNY Unlimited is a credential program that expands access to the college experience for students with intellectual disabilities.

Adaptive sports, wheelchair basketball

Adaptive & Inclusive Sports

CUNY Adaptive Sports, established in 2017 as part of the Inclusive & Adaptive Sports Platform, has pioneered inclusive athletics with the launch of wheelchair basketball in 2019, marking the first collegiate program of its kind on the East Coast. Since then, it has blossomed into a leader in providing equitable opportunities for athletes with disabilities across 26 campuses.

Reconnect students in a campus building

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

CUNY Accessibility Conference

Students engaged in disability leadership throughout the institution are encouraged to reach out to UDL² team for hands-on support, advisement, promotion, and sponsorship for any project or initiative aimed at making gains for the disability community at CUNY. We look forward to rallying behind you in your efforts!

Students are encouraged to utilize the portal to express their concerns related to accessibility across our campuses or services.

Campus Disability Services Centers

Find more information at your campus below:

CUNY Campus: Baruch College

Baruch College

CUNY Campus: Borough of Manhattan Community College

Borough of Manhattan Community College

CUNY Campus: Bronx Community College

Bronx Community College

CUNY Campus: Brooklyn College

Brooklyn College

CUNY Campus: College of Staten Island

College of Staten Island

Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism

Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism

CUNY Campus: CUNY Graduate Center

CUNY Graduate Center

CUNY Campus: CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy

CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy

CUNY Campus: CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies

CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies

CUNY Campus: CUNY School of Law

CUNY School of Law

CUNY Campus: CUNY School of Professional Studies

CUNY School of Professional Studies

CUNY Campus: Guttman Community College

Guttman Community College

CUNY Campus: Hostos Community College

Hostos Community College

CUNY Campus: Hunter College

Hunter College

CUNY Campus: John Jay College

John Jay College of Criminal Justice

CUNY Campus: Kingsborough Community College

Kingsborough Community College

  • 2001 Oriental Boulevard
    Room D-205
    Brooklyn, NY 11235
  • 718-368-5175
CUNY Campus: LaGuardia Community College

LaGuardia Community College

  • 31-10 Thomson Avenue
    M Building, Room M120
    Long Island City, NY 11101
  • 718-482-5279
CUNY Campus: Lehman College

Lehman College

CUNY Campus: Medgar Evers College

Medgar Evers College

CUNY Campus: CityTech, New York City College of Technology

New York City College of Technology

CUNY Campus: Queens College

Queens College

CUNY Campus: Queensborough Community College

Queensborough Community College

CUNY Campus: 91ŇůĸĘÓƵ

91ŇůĸĘÓƵ

CUNY Campus: York College

York College

  • 94-20 Guy R. Brewer Boulevard
    Room AC-1G02
    Jamaica, NY 11451
  • 718-262-2191

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.

ADA Resources

Disability Service Providers

Assistive Technology Resources

  • (RESNA)

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.

ACCES-VR Process for CUNY Students with Disabilities Utilizing Book Vouchers

Welcome to the ACCES-VR process for CUNY students requiring assistance with book vouchers. Please follow the steps below to ensure a smooth experience in obtaining your textbooks.

Step 1: Voucher Submission

Email your vouchers to 2330mgr@follett.com

Step 2: Fill Out the Required Form

  • Complete the required form only once:
  • Use the correct authorization number when filling out the form.

Step 3: Textbook Information

For the textbook section, please follow these steps:

  1. Visit your college’s bookstore website.
  2. Copy the exact book information provided there.
  3. Paste this information into the form.

Step 4: Submit the Form

Once you have completed the form, ˛őłÜ˛úłľľ±łŮĚýit for processing.
Important Note: Allow 24-48 hours for account setup and book ordering after form submission.

Book Formats

    • Digital materials are the preferred choice for textbooks.
    • Physical copies will only be ordered if digital versions are unavailable.
    • Please be aware that physical copies may take longer, particularly custom books for your college.

Authorization Check

    • If the authorization number you provided is incorrect, you will receive an email notification. This will result in a delay in your book ordering process.

Questions?

If you have any questions or need further assistance, please email 2330mgr@follett.com

Thank you for following these steps, and we wish you a successful academic year!