Confidentiality and Consent

You have the right to control who receives your disability-related information.

• We would only share information to:
  • Arrange accommodations
  • Fulfill legal requirements
  • Respond to your specific requests
• Disclosure to Faculty and Staff
  • SDS will need to inform appropriate university personnel of your registration to coordinate accommodations.
  • Only the necessary amount of information is shared, based on the nature of the accommodation.
• Classroom Accommodations
  • You choose when to provide instructors with an accommodation letter from SDS.
  • The letter confirms your registration and lists accommodations.
  • It does not include specific details about your condition(s).
• Situational Disclosure
  • In some cases, more detailed information about your condition may be needed:
    • To implement specific accommodations
    • To help faculty understand the connection between your disability and the accommodation
  • Such disclosures are made only with your agreement.

Maintenance of Records

Disability documentation is maintained on secure servers and is not part of your permanent educational record.

Documentation is protected under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and will be released from your file in the following circumstances only:

1. A court order
2. Your written permission
3. Within SDS for a legitimate educational reason

In accordance with Cornell policy, SDS files and records are destroyed five years after your graduation or date of last attendance.