According to the US Department of Education, an accommodation is a modification or adjustment to enable students with disabilities to participate equally within an educational program.

Barnard offers a wide range of accommodations based on the needs of each student. Accommodations such as alternative testing, in-class accommodations, note-taking, academic coaching, disability-related housing accommodations, emotional support animals, and assisting with reduced course loads may be provided to registered students.

The first step is to begin the registration process with our office. We can help walk you through the process to assure that you have the opportunity to gain access to any and all accommodations that would help reduce whatever barriers you experience due to disability.

Academic accommodations are tailored to the individual student and the barriers that they experience within the learning environment. However, some examples of academic accommodations that may be provided include: extra time for exams, stop-the-clock breaks during testing, a distraction-reduced testing environment, use of assistive technologies, advance notice on assignment criteria, occasional extensions, use of a laptop for note-taking in class, peer note takers, and disability-related absences.

Specific disability information, including diagnosis, is kept confidential by our office, except in rare instances where an individual needs to know this information in order to provide an accommodation. In most instances, when you request accommodations in AIM and professors are sent the faculty notification letters for your requested courses, they will only be made aware that you are registered with our office and of the specific accommodations you have requested for their course.

Students need only to identify that they are registered with CARDS and that they receive accommodations through our office. This can be done by requesting accommodations in AIM, which will generate a faculty notification letter to be sent to your professors.  For certain accommodations, more in-depth conversations with the professor might be beneficial to work out logistics, such as getting prior access to PowerPoint presentations or lecture notes.

Many students in the past have found an email to be a useful way to open communication with a professor. Below is a sample email.

“Hello, my name is __________________________ and I am in your class this term. I am writing to inform you that I am registered with the Center for Accessibility Resources & Disability Services and would like to come speak with you about my accommodation plan for this semester. I would like to arrange a time to meet with you briefly (we can schedule an appointment, or I can come by during office hours) to discuss the logistics of my accommodation plan. Please let me know of your availability to meet, and I have copied Barnard Center for Accessibility Resources & Disability Services in case you have any questions. Thank you very much.”

We know that sometimes students may need our assistance in figuring out the logistics of an accommodation. Please feel free to reach out to your coordinator to discuss any questions that you might have. At your request, we will follow up with a professor on your behalf.

Tutoring is not an accommodation provided by the office. However, we do provide academic coaching. Tutors can be requested through the Deans' Office for Advising and Support.

Students who are eligible for alternative testing accommodations, such as extended time, stop-the-clock breaks, distraction-reduced testing environment, and others, should make sure to request their accommodations via AIM in courses where they wish to use their eligible accommodations.  This will generate a faculty notification letter and provide a link to complete an alternative testing contract for the instructor. 

Once the alternative testing contract is completed in AIM, students are able to schedule to take their exams with accommodations at CARDS.  You must schedule your exams at least 10 days before the exam date, but you can schedule them earlier.  CARDS recommends reviewing your syllabi at the start of the semester and scheduling all exams you have that you would like to use your accommodations for at once, so that you do not have to remember to schedule 10 days out.  You can make an exam scheduling appointment with your CARDS Coordinator at the beginning of each semester to get help with this.  

For final exams, students must schedule their final exams by the deadline (typically two weeks before the last day of classes) in order to be able to take their finals at CARDS with accommodations. 

FOR DEFERRED EXAMS:  Students who are registered with CARDS for eligible testing accommodations, have requested accommodations for the relevant semester in AIM, and defer a final exam to the start of the following semester due to illness or emergency, should schedule their deferred exams with CARDS.  If the student has NOT requested accommodations for that semester or is not eligible for testing accommodations (even if they are registered for other accommodations with CARDS), they should take their deferred exam(s) with either the Registrar's Office or their instructor as indicated by the deferred exam procedures for that semester. 

All accommodations, including notetakers, are determined after meeting with our office and having a discussion to establish what is best for each student. If you are approved for a notetaking accommodation, you can simply request the accommodation of notetaking services for any classes for which you think you’ll need one. You'll need to confirm your need for notetaking services, and then you can access your class notes in AIM once a notetaker is assigned to the course. 

Yes. Students registered with CARDS and who have supporting documentation may apply to take a reduced course load. Please keep in mind that the reduced course load accommodation is not designed to be used for more than one semester during a student's time at Barnard. Please reach out to your coordinator for more information. 

In general, no, but there are courses offered that do not involve physical activity and still meet the PE requirement.  Approval may be needed, so be in touch with your coordinator with any questions about options.

Exam times are determined by professors, but we do not give unlimited time on exams. However, accommodations that give extra time or stop the clock breaks are used to determine the length given to students.

In some instances, yes, but approval is needed. More information can be found here.

We would be happy to provide an Accommodations Verification Letter for you. Please contact cards@barnard.edu with more information regarding your request.