About the Offices of Disability Services

At every Rutgers University campus or location there is an Office of Disability Services (ODS) to provide reasonable accommodations and services for students with disabilities. The ODS team members will work closely with each student individually in order to develop an effective and comprehensive plan for appropriate services and reasonable accommodations. ODS is dedicated to providing information and resources necessary to allow students to pursue their academic, personal, and professional goals while at Rutgers. It is their goal to aid in the development of students becoming responsible decision makers and self-advocates who are in charge of their own future by providing essential tools and supports.

The staff of ODS value disability as yet another component of the incredible diversity found on each campus. Disability can take many different forms – some are apparent while others are not. They strive to promote an appreciation of every student and the unique strengths and attributes they bring along with them.

Please visit their Contact Us page for information on all of the Offices of Disability Services employees throughout Rutgers University.  

The following are the links to the Rutgers University Offices of Disability Services:

What is a Disability?

According to the Americans with Disabilities, Amendments Act of 2008, a disability is a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. Major life activities include, but are not limited to, caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, seeing, hearing, eating, sleeping, walking, standing, lifting, bending, speaking, breathing, learning, reading, concentrating, thinking, communicating, and working.

Some general examples of disabilities we accommodate include, but are not limited to, depression, anxiety, hearing/vision/mobility conditions, chronic illnesses, psychological diagnoses, learning disabilities, ADHD, traumatic brain injury, neurological conditions, and Autism Spectrum Disorder.

What is a Reasonable Accommodation?

When an environment has a barrier and is not accessible, we use accommodations to provide students with an opportunity to participate and address the disabling issue. An example of reasonable accommodation would be to move a classroom located on the second floor without an elevator and moving it to an accessible building for a student who stairs are a barrier. 

Accommodations must be reasonable and do not change the fundamental or essential requirements or the technical standards of the course, program, job, or activity etc. Reasonable accommodations may include academic adjustments, auxiliary aids, services, or modifications of facilities.  Please visit our page on Most Commonly Used Course Accommodations for more in-dept information on typical course related accommodations.

Register with ODS:

Students with a documented disability and those that suspect they may have a disability should register for reasonable accommodations and services at Rutgers University, please visit our Registration page for further information on how to register and get connected.  You can also contact one of our offices listed above.

How Do I find out More?

Complete the Inquiry form if you have not previously registered with our office and you have student-related disability services questions for any campus.

The following are the links to the Rutgers University Offices of Disability Services:

 

Resource Category
Student Accommodations
Audience
Students
Campus
New Brunswick
Off Campus Locations
RBHS
Newark
Camden