What are disability-related housing accommodations?

We can work with you to identify housing options to address your disability-specific needs. A disability is defined as a condition that substantially impacts one or more major life functions (such as walking, breathing, learning, hearing, thinking, etc.). 

Examples of disability-related housing accommodations:

• A wheelchair accessible room
• A ground floor room, or a room near an elevator
• Access to a private bathroom, or a low-use shared bathroom
• Strobe alarms in the room
• Air filtration and/or air conditioning in the room

Deadlines

We work with the Housing Office to ensure that students who have registered with our office are afforded appropriate housing options. It is best for us to receive complete information from you by a certain date in order to facilitate that process: 

Newly-admitted freshmen

• Fall admits: May 15
• Spring admits: December 15

Rising sophomores and upperclassmen

• February 14

Summer students

• May 31

Transfer, graduate, and professional students:

• Housing options are limited. Start the registration process with our office as soon as you have confirmed your admission to Cornell.

If we hear from you after your deadline, we can still work with you to try to identify an appropriate housing option, however availability will be more limited. We can put you on a waiting list to be reassigned to a room that meets your needs, but cannot guarantee one will become available. 

Requesting Disability-Related Housing Accommodations

Step 1: Apply for Campus Housing

• Complete the Housing Application process outlined by the Housing Office. You must do this to secure housing on campus, even if you need housing accommodations.
• If you currently live on West Campus, in an upper-level residence hall (e.g., Collegetown), or live in a program house, you should participate in your residence hall’s Continued Occupancy Process before requesting housing accommodations from our office. 

Step 2: Request Disability-Related Housing Accommodations

• You will need to register with SDS:
  • Submit appropriate supporting documentation.
    If your request involves asthma or allergies, you can use our Documentation of Asthma or Allergy Form (pdf)
  • Complete a Self-Disclosure Form (if you haven't already)
• If you have already registered with SDS, we will email you to check in about the steps you should take for housing accommodations in upcoming semester(s).
  • If you do not already have housing accommodations with SDS and are now seeking them, please submit a Self-Disclosure Form with appropriate supporting documentation.

Step 3: Await Communication from SDS and/or Housing Office

• SDS will follow up with you to discuss next steps
  • If approved, we will work with the Housing Office to arrange an appropriate housing option for you. If you meet the deadlines (below), this will take place prior to general room selection and placement.
• The Housing Office will communicate with you regarding housing placement. You are responsible for meeting all of the Housing Office's deadlines and requirements.
• You will be contacted at your Cornell email address.

Additional Resources

Visit the Cornell Housing website to learn about more about the different types of housing available here at Cornell. They also offer info sessions, tours, room demos, and other events allowing you to explore the different housing communities and options.