Accessibility Services

A disability is defined by the ADA as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.*

HKS may modify policies, practices, and/or procedures so students have equal opportunity to participate in programs and activities. These changes are called “reasonable accommodations.” Examples include, but are not limited to:

• Sign language interpreters
• Notetaking software
• Course materials in alternative formats (e.g., different font size or digital format)
• Extended time on exams

An accommodation is not reasonable if it would:

• Lower or substantially modify academic requirements (e.g., changing an exam’s content or exempting a student from required work)
• Impose an undue administrative burden (e.g., deadline reminders)
• Be provided for personal use or study (e.g., hearing aids, personal care attendants, tutors, or coaches)
• Require a fundamental alteration of the nature of Harvard’s programs or activities, or of essential academic requirements

If a requested accommodation would fundamentally alter an HKS program or activity, we will explore other options to support participation to the maximum extent possible.

*Support services and resources are still available to students who are struggling but do not have a disability as defined above.

1. Submit documentation
   Email documentation to our office or, for incoming students, upload it through the new admit portal (read our documentation guidelines).
    
2. Documentation review
   The Disability Accommodations Coordinator reviews the documentation and contacts the student to schedule a meeting.
    
3. Meet with us
   The student and the Disability Accommodations Coordinator meet to discuss the student’s lived experience, documentation, potential accommodations, and expectations for both parties.
    
4. Approval and implementation
   The Disability Accommodations Coordinator communicates the decision to the student in writing and supports the implementation of approved accommodations.
    
5. Requesting additional accommodations
   Students should follow this process for each new accommodation request, even if they are already registered with our office or have previously approved accommodations.

Timeline

The eligibility determination process is not same-day and typically takes 2-4 weeks from the date we receive qualifying documentation. Documentation is reviewed in order of receipt. When classes are in session, students can expect to hear from our office within one week of submission; during the summer, within four weeks. Students must schedule a meeting with our office within the timeline suggested in our email to avoid delays. Testing accommodations should be requested at least two weeks before the first exam date. Accommodations are not retroactive.

Keep in mind: each student and each request is unique. Documentation requirements and approved accommodations may vary. All accommodations are determined individually through an interactive process that considers each student’s specific needs and documentation. In most cases, documentation is essential to establish:

• the presence of a disability, 
• the need for accommodations, and 
• the nature of those accommodations

Appropriate documentation must:

• Be dated, on letterhead, in English, and signed by a licensed, qualified treating provider who is not a friend or family member.
• Include clear information about the disability or diagnosis.
• Describe in detail how the diagnosis substantially limits one or more major life activities (e.g., walking, concentrating, seeing), and, for temporary disabilities due to illness, injury, or medical procedure, indicate how long each is expected to last.
• Include accommodation recommendations that directly connect each recommendation to the limitations described.
• Be recent enough to reflect the current level of functioning. How recent it must be depends on the nature of the disability and the specific accommodation requested. Students may be asked to provide updated information if their condition can change over time or if previous documentation does not reflect their current condition and its impact. 

For learning disabilities and ADD/ADHD diagnosis, we strongly prefer a complete psychoeducational or neuropsychological assessment that includes standardized assessments such as the Woodcock-Johnson series, Wechsler series, etc.

Documentation must be emailed directly to accessibility@hks.harvard.edu or, for newly admitted students, submitted through the new admit portal.

The Harvard Shuttle is free, ADA-accessible, and available to all Harvard community members. It operates on the Cambridge and Allston campuses. The daytime shuttle is complemented by the Evening Van, which runs after hours along the shuttle route. The M2 shuttle runs between the Longwood and Cambridge campuses.

The Daytime Van Service is a year-round service for Harvard students, faculty, and staff who, because of disability or temporary injury, have difficulty using the accessible Harvard Shuttle. To request access to the Daytime Van Service, please follow the accommodation registration process outlined above to register with our office. 

For accessible transportation beyond campus, learn more about accessibility on the MBTA.

HKS does not have its own housing.

Students who live in, or plan to apply for, Harvard University Housing (HUH) and need disability-related housing accommodations should first follow the process outlined above to register with our office. 

• For students not yet in housing, documentation must be received by May 1, before the HUH lottery opens in early May. 
• Once we receive students’ documentation, our regular review process applies. 
• All students seeking to live in HUH must follow HUH’s standard application process and deadlines. 
• After we approve students’ accommodations, we will notify the HUH Disability Coordinator, and students will work directly with them for the rest of the housing process.

Please note: approval of disability accommodations does not guarantee housing.

Students should first work with their home school’s Local Disability Coordinator to request accommodations. The process for cross-registered classes is as follows: 

• HKS students registering for a class at another school (within or outside Harvard)
  The student must notify our office in writing—with as much advance notice as possible—about the cross-registered class. We will share the student’s approved HKS accommodations with our counterpart at the other school. Depending on the school, the student may need additional meetings with their team. Pedagogy varies across schools and courses; accommodations approved at HKS are not guaranteed at another school.
   
• Students from another school registering for an HKS class 
  The student should follow their home school’s usual process and notify their disability coordinator, with as much notice as possible, that they will be taking a class at HKS. Their disability coordinator will contact our office. Most accommodations will be approved and implemented promptly; however, we may occasionally request an additional meeting with the cross-registered student. Pedagogy varies across schools and courses; accommodations approved at the student’s home institution are not guaranteed HKS.

Any student who experiences issues with their approved accommodations should contact the Disability Accommodations Coordinator as soon as possible. Learn about the University’s grievance process if:

• The Disability Accommodations Coordinator cannot resolve the issue
• A student disagrees with the approved accommodations
• A student has a broader concern related to disability discrimination