Accessibility

To receive accommodations, students must register with the Office of Disability Services (ODS) and complete the steps below:

1. Schedule an intake appointment

• Contact ODS to meet with the Director:
  • Email: disabilityservices@hms.harvard.edu
  • Phone: 617‑432‑9198
• Students are encouraged to schedule this appointment as soon as possible, even if they have not yet gathered full documentation.
• At the intake meeting, the Director will review the student’s description of the impact of their disability, previous accommodations, and anticipated needs, and will provide an Intake Form and information about ODS.

2. Submit documentation

Refer to the Documentation Guidelines before gathering your documentation. Here's a brief overview.

Documentation from an appropriately licensed medical or mental health professional should include:

• Diagnosis and date of establishment
• Description of the impact of the condition
• Evaluation procedures used
• Treatment history
• Recommended accommodations in an educational setting

Accepted documentation formats include, and should follow the Documentation Guidelines:

• Neuropsychological evaluation
• Diagnostic report
• Detailed clinician letter
• Completed Documentation Form located on the 

Documentation may be submitted at or after the intake appointment.

Internal documentation review:

• ODS determines reasonable accommodations based on the submitted documentation, the student’s self‑report, and the technical standards, essential functions, or learning objectives of the course, clerkship, or research requirement.
• Requests are reviewed case‑by‑case through an interactive, student‑centered process.
• As needed, the Director may consult relevant faculty, staff, or administrators to assess the reasonableness of requested accommodations.

3. Implementation

• Once the review is complete, the student meets with ODS to discuss approved accommodations.
• The student provides course codes, faculty names, and email addresses so that Accommodation Letters can be sent to the appropriate faculty/staff/administrators.
• The student then meets with each faculty member to review how accommodations will be implemented.

4. Ongoing responsibilities

• At the beginning of each course or clinical experience, the student contacts the Director to request updated Accommodation Letters.
• Accommodation Letters inform faculty/clinical directors of the approved accommodations the student plans to use.
• Accommodations are not in place until the student has:
  • requested the letters,
  • ensured delivery to instructors, and
  • discussed implementation with each instructor.

Students are welcome to check in with ODS at any time during the semester with questions or concerns.

Students seeking housing accommodations should:

• Contact the HMS and HSDM Disability Services Office at 617‑432‑9198 or disabilityservices@hms.harvard.edu to schedule an intake appointment with the Director.
• At this meeting, students will receive information about the housing accommodation process and the documentation requirements.
• Students should initiate the request as soon as they decide to live in University housing.

• MD Student Handbook: 10.03 Policies and Procedures for Students with Disabilities
• MD Technical Standards 
• DMD Technical Standards

Students have the right to appeal any accommodation decision by submitting a written explanation and petition for reconsideration.

1. Initial mediation

• The Director of ODS will first attempt to mediate between the student and the relevant faculty/staff member.

2. Council of Academic Societies (CAS)

• If the matter is not resolved, the Director will present the petition to the Council of Academic Societies.
• In keeping with confidentiality requirements, the Director will obtain the student’s written consent before sharing any clinical documentation with CAS, if it is relevant to the petition.
• CAS will review the case and recommend a resolution.
• Within three school days of the CAS meeting, the Director will inform the student and faculty/staff member of CAS’s recommendations.

3. University‑level appeal

• If the CAS resolution is unsatisfactory, the student may appeal in writing to:

  Director, Harvard University Disability Resources

  Smith Campus Center, Suite 662

  Cambridge, MA 02138

  617‑495‑1859

  disabilityresources@harvard.edu

• Online information: https://accessibility.harvard.edu/filing-a-complaint

The decision of the Director of University Disability Resources is final.

• Getting Around:
  • HMS Accessible Campus Map
  • Accessible public transportation – LMA Shuttles
• Emergency Evacuation for People Requesting Special Assistance Learning Strategies
• Harvard University Disability Resources