Please use the Disability Self-Identification Form to request services. You will get an automated response that your form has been received. This form is intended for students to use one time and does not need to be resubmitted each semester.

Once you have self-identified:

1. We will contact you for additional information and to schedule an intake appointment.
   
2. You should prepare to submit documentation of your disability as per documentation guidelines.  You may submit documentation before the intake meeting or bring it with you in person.  We accept electronic documentation sent in PDF format via email.
3. At the intake meeting we will discuss your individual needs and concerns and review your documentation.
4. If the presented documentation is appropriate and complete, we can prepare Academic Adjustment Notices for your instructors. 

It is strongly suggested that you make accommodation requests before the semester begins or within the first few weeks of class. While there is no specific deadline, services such as the coordination of sign language interpreters and requests for books in alternate format can take time to arrange. To ensure optimal service and provisions, it is in your best interest to notify the office before the start of the semester.

Documentation Guidelines

Students requesting accommodations based on disability status should provide the university with appropriate medical documentation. The documentation should state the specific disability and include recommended accommodations with a rationale if needed. The documentation must be typed and submitted by a licensed healthcare professional qualified to diagnose the disability and recommend these accommodations.

The New School has the right to request supplemental documentation if it is determined that the information in the initial documentation is incomplete or inadequate, or that the qualifications of the healthcare provider or professional are in question.

All documentation will be kept confidential as outlined in the section on confidentiality. For more details about acceptable documentation, including information on the documentation of learning disabilities and attention-deficit disorders, please review the guidelines for documentation under quicklinks.

Arrangement of Services

How services and, specifically, academic accommodations are arranged depends on several factors. Some services are relatively simple. For example, if you present a notice that you need to use a tape recorder to record lectures, you and your instructor should be able to come to an agreement on how this will be done. Other accommodations, such as providing an exam in an alternative format (e.g., Braille), will require the instructor to seek the help of the Disability Services office. Generally, if an accommodation requires the assistance of another person (such as a sign-language interpreter) and/or adaptive equipment (such as specialized computer software), the Disability Services office will handle the arrangements.

Providing extended exam time is generally the instructor’s responsibility. In cases where it is not possible to provide extended time, the instructor should talk to the Disability Services office. Some accommodations require ongoing dialogue between the director of Disability Services and the instructor. For example. if a student who is deaf needs class notes, the instructor can help identify a responsible student in class who takes legible and comprehensive notes to share with the other student.

Should you have additional questions or concerns, please contact SDS.

Additional Services

Generally speaking, The New School does not have resource rooms, and all classes are mainstream classes. While SDS can offer students training in academic skill areas such as time management, studying, and test taking, specific tutoring in academic subjects and assistance with specific academic tasks is not provided. Parents are strongly encouraged to check with the division their son or daughter is enrolled in to determine what type of academic assistance is available. For example, the University Writing Center  is available for all students to get assistance with research papers and other written assignments. The University Writing Center is located on the 9th floor of 71 Fifth Avenue.