Disability Housing Accommodations

Students with diagnosed disabilities who may need some form of disability-related housing consideration (air-conditioning, accessible bathrooms, strobe alarm, etc.) should submit a Disability Accommodation Request to CARDS (Center for Accessibility Resources & Disability Services).

Requests for a disability housing accommodation must be submitted in addition to the regular Housing application.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does CARDS define "disability"?

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, a disability is defined as "any physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities." If you are unsure whether your particular illness or impairment qualifies as a disability, please contact CARDS directly, well in advance of the deadline.

Must I be registered with CARDS to apply for disability-related housing?

Yes. If you have not previously registered with CARDS, you must do prior to applying for a disability-related housing accommodation. All students with disabilities requesting a disability-related housing accommodation must follow the three-step procedure outlined above. CARDS often finds that when students come in to discuss their disability-related housing concerns that there may be other types of needs (especially for students with chronic illnesses) for which CARDS registration might be helpful in the future.

What are my housing options if I apply for disability-related housing?

The Housing Accommodation Committee reviews requests for disability-related housing consideration on a case-by-case basis. Accessibility information may be found on each residence hall's webpage at barnard.edu/reslife/housing-options. Room assignments are made based on individual students' documented needs and room availability.

Additional Questions

If you have any questions, please contact CARDS, in 009 Milbank (ods@barnard.edu or 212-854-4634).