Harvard University is committed to building a diverse and inclusive community, which includes providing equal access to all students. Disability inclusion and full participation are matters of social justice. Access is achieved by reducing barriers within built environments, examining and modifying inaccessible policies and procedures, and creating inclusive practices.
The Disability Access Office (DAO) determines accommodations for students with disabilities and ensures legal compliance with non-discrimination for students with disabilities under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and The Americans with Disabilities Act (1990, and Amendments Act of 2008). DAO works in collaboration with Harvard faculty, students, and staff to create equitable educational experiences through the promotion of universal design in learning, reasonable accommodations in inaccessible environments, and the reframing of disability as a valued aspect of the human experience.
The Disability Access Office is part of the FAS Office of Student Services. Student Services works to streamline the student experience for Harvard College, Harvard Griffin GSAS, and SEAS. We aim to support an equitable academic and residential experience and help you quickly and efficiently get the administrative support you need.
About the FAS Office of Student Services
The FAS Office of Student Services includes the following departments:
Faculty of Arts and Sciences Students
Includes Harvard College, Harvard Griffin GSAS, and SEAS
Harvard College Students
Undergraduate students only
You can find all of our offices in a single location – we are located on the fourth-floor suite of the Smith Campus Center at 1350 Massachusetts Avenue.
FAQ
What qualifies as a disability?
The Americans with Disabilities Act defines a person with a disability as a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. The ADA Amendments Act of 2008 expands this definition to include a person who is regarded as having a disability or has a history of a disability.
How many disabled students are there at Harvard?
Disabled people constitute one of the nation’s largest minority groups, at approximately 20% of the general population. Harvard students may choose to self-identify a disability at any time, and because of this, the numbers vary from year to year. The number of Disabled students at Harvard University align with national averages of between 10-20% of the student body, depending on school affiliation.
What types of disabilities do students disclose?
We work with students with a broad range of mental and physical health disabilities. Invisible disabilities, or conditions that are not observable, make up the largest category of diagnoses reported to DAO. Invisible disabilities include mental health diagnoses, chronic health conditions, sleep disorders, allergies, autism, specific learning disabilities, and attention deficit disorders.
Students with visible, or observable disabilities are also well represented within our population. This includes students with sensory, speech, motor, and mobility impairments.
If you are unsure if your experience is within the remit of our office, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
What are accommodations?
According to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, an accommodation is “a change, adaptation, or modification to a policy, program, service, or workplace which will allow a qualified person with a disability to participate fully in a program, take advantage of a service, or perform a job.” Accommodations are adjustments that are necessary to create access, and they do not alter any essential requirements of a course or program. You may think of accommodations as using different approaches to achieve the same outcome. Requested accommodations can relate to any aspect of Harvard’s programs, services, and activities.
How are accommodations determined?
Accommodations are determined through an interactive process that involves the student’s history and self-report, review of supporting medical documentation, and the professional assessment of DAO staff. All students will have a chance to meet individually with a DAO staff member to share their experiences and requests.
Accommodations are not one-size-fits-all, and they are evaluated individually based on the nexus of the impact of the disability and an inaccessible environment, policy, or experience. All people are impacted by their health conditions in unique and personal ways; therefore, we do not systematically match categories of diagnoses with accommodations.
Disabilities and their impact can change over time and in different environments. DAO advisors are available to meet with students at any time during their Harvard career to consider accommodation adjustments.