Academic Accommodations
Academic Accommodations
Online Accommodation Request Procedure
Please note that you should always request accommodations through CARDS (via our AIM portal) so that we can confirm your eligibility with your professors.
- Students initiate accommodation requests for any applicable classes by requesting accommodations within AIM.
- CARDS will contact each professor to notify them of your accommodations. Each professor will be asked to electronically confirm your accommodation plan within one week of receiving the request from the CARDS office.
- Students must check that their accommodation plan is active by viewing its status in AIM (under “List Accommodations”) no later than one week after making the request. If requests have not been confirmed after one week, it is the student's responsibility to follow up with their professors and ask them to electronically submit their confirmation of the request. Students should copy their CARDS coordinator on this communication.
- Accommodations must be electronically confirmed by each professor before they are considered active and you are eligible to receive any accommodations through CARDS. An active accommodation status will be listed as Instructor Confirmed under “List Accommodations” in AIM.
Please see this overview of the online accommodation request process with photos.
Information about Accommodation Plans
The Center for Accessibility Resources & Disability Services offers housing and academic accommodations for students with qualified documentation. The types of accommodations vary based on the person's need. When students register with us, we engage in an interactive process with them based upon their specific situation. As a result, we may implement an individualized accommodation plan for the student to allow them access to their educational program(s). Students will work with a dedicated coordinator to implement their accommodation plan.
Please note that accommodation plans are not intended to be retroactive, so we can only set up accommodations for your classes or exams after you have your intake meeting with us. It is important to register with CARDS early in the semester to use your accommodations for all your coursework.
Accessing AIM
CARDS has an online database, AIM, which allows students to submit their accommodation requests each semester, schedule exams with CARDS, and gain access to notes from approved notetakers. Please review our guide for requesting accommodations.
Access AIM here: https://hood.accessiblelearning.com/Barnard/
Timeline for academic accommodation requests
Students may register throughout the semester; however, no intake meetings are conducted during the final exam period unless a student has a brand new diagnosis that emerged within the final two weeks of the semester. It's imperative that CARDS has at least two weeks prior to final exams to get accommodations set up for students. Though we cannot meet with students during final exam period, we are happy to meet with students interested in registering with our office after the end of exams.
Required check-in procedure for academic accommodation requests
Students registered with CARDS must check-in each semester with CARDS staff either via a meeting or via our online AIM database to set up accommodations for their classes. This process is detailed above under Online Accommodation Request Procedure.
Please contact us at cards@barnard.edu if you have any questions. We look forward to working with you!
For students with housing accommodation needs
Please note that there is an additional housing accommodation request form that you will need to complete for your request to be considered. Learn more about this process.
Academic Accommodations FAQ's
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, untimed 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, note takers, and additional absences.
Specific disability information, including diagnosis, is kept confidential to our office, except in rare instances where an individual needs to know this information in order to provide an accommodation. In most instances, professors for your requested courses 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 briefly before or after class for most accommodations. For certain accommodations, more in depth conversations with the professor are needed to work out logistics, such as getting prior access to powerpoint presentations.
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 Dean of Studies office.
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 a notetaker for any classes for which you think you’ll need one. Please refer to this Prezi for more guidance.
Yes. Students registered with CARDS and that have supporting documentation may apply to take a reduced course load. Please reach out to your coordinator for more information.
In some instances, yes, but approval is needed.
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 this for you. Please contact cards@barnard.edu with more information regarding your request.