Office of Accessibility Services (OAS)

No. When needed to implement an accommodation, faculty or staff will be informed of the accommodation only and not the disability or disabling condition.

No. Reasonable accommodations, once granted through the Office of Accessibility Services (OAS), are only applicable to the date granted and onward or if temporary, are noted as such.

No. Once a student has registered with the Office of Accessibility Services (OAS), every semester, the student will have to request to have their accommodation(s) implemented.  
Use your CUNY login credentials (the same way you login to CUNYfirst and Brightspace) to login to cuny-accommodate.symplicity.com, select student. On the left hand side menu, click the Accommodation tab, then click semester request. Follow the prompts. For details, watch this how to.  

No. But faculty must 1) consider possible ways that a student could reach the same learning outcomes through their approved accommodation(s) or through alternative ways, 2) communicate to the Office of Accessibility Services (OAS), that a student’s approved accommodation(s) may not be able to be implemented, and 3) work with Office of Accessibility Services (OAS) to make a best effort to implement the approved accommodations or through alternative ways.

The accommodation process is interactive. On occasion but rarely, a student’s accommodation(s) may fundamentally alter the course or the course’s learning objectives and it is possible that a student’s accommodation(s) may not be able to be implemented.

First, students should understand what the purpose of and the learning outcomes of the group work are. If an instructor thinks that a student’s accommodation(s) cannot be implemented because of the required group work, the instructor should contact the Office of Accessibility Services (OAS), to discuss possible ways to meet the same learning outcomes.

Because accommodations are unique to the individual.

Students may first discuss their concerns with the Office of Accessibility Services (OAS) to remedy the issue. And/or students may submit a formal appeal regarding accommodation determinations, academic adjustments or implementation by emailing CDO-TitleIX-ADA504@sph.cuny.edu.

Yes. Regardless of immigration status or location of the student, the Americans with Disabilities Act applies to all CUNY SPH students.

No. Requesting to take an incomplete in a course is an agreement made between student and instructor.

No. Requesting a leave of absence is a separate process.

• CUNY SPH Counseling and Wellness Services
  Students seeking support may contact Counseling and Wellness Services for free short-term confidential individual counseling and support group sessions.
• CUNY Assistive Technology Services (CATS)
  CUNY Assistive Technology Services (CATS) is a team of assistive technology specialists with the goal to stay on the forefront of assistive technology, providing support for those technologies, to all students attending the various CUNY colleges.  Please contact the Office of Accessibility Services (OAS) accessibility@sph.cuny.edu with questions about available assistive technologies.   
• CUNY SPH Writing Assistance and Quantitative Tutoring
  One-to-one appointments for Writing Assistance and Quantitative Tutoring are available to all enrolled students. Be sure to check out all available CUNY SPH Academic Resources, Student Services, and Student Resources.
• CUNY Coalition for Students with Disabilities 
  The CUNY Coalition for Students with Disabilities is committed to increasing awareness, opportunity, and fostering community amongst CUNY’s more than 14,000 students with disabilities. Connect with them on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
• CUNY Central’s Disability & Accessibility Services webpage

Outside CUNY resources:

• Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD)
• Disability Rights New York – Contact Us (drny.org)
• For pregnant students, see the Pregnant Scholar, Title IX Basics

• Digital Accessibility in Practice (on Brightspace) – Scheduled to launch in early August 2026
• Instructors may extend time as an accommodation to a test or assignment via “Special Access” options in Brightspace.

A disability is a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities that is permanent or temporary. This includes disabling conditions because of pregnancy and pregnancy recovery and what are commonly referred to as ‘invisible disabilities,’ for example:

• • Learning disabilities
  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or ADD
  • Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
  • Major Depressive Disorder/clinical depression (MDD)
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Physical conditions, such as traumatic brain injury (TBI) and chronic pain disorders

The CUNY SPH Office of Accessibility Services (OAS) coordinates and provides reasonable accommodations and support services to students with disabilities.

The reasonable accommodation process is student-driven and self-advocacy focused. The CUNY SPH Office of Accessibility Services (OAS) reviews student disability documentation for accuracy and specificity and works in collaboration with students, instructors, and CUNY SPH staff to ensure that students with disabilities are provided with equal access (a ‘level playing field’) to CUNY SPH’s academic and non-academic programs and activities.

For accommodation implementation, instructors and applicable CUNY SPH staff may be informed of the granted accommodation(s), but not the disability or disabling medical condition of students.

For more, see the CUNY Accommodations Policy 7.10.