Student Disability Services

In addition to a social justice approach when working with students to address barriers, Student Disability Services utilizes the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and its amendments to inform our work. The ADA defines a person with a disability as an individual with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, who has a record of such impairment, or who is regarded as having such impairment. This link provides additional information about the ADA and its application in higher education.  

Upon admission and prior to enrollment, students with a disability should provide documentation from an appropriate provider that identifies the type of disability, describes the current impact of the disability in an academic setting, and lists recommended accommodations, including any received from previous educational institutions. To begin the process. 

1. Complete the SDS online application through our university-wide database, Accommodation Information Manager (AIM).  
2. Submit documentation using the link received after you submit the application. 
3. Schedule a meeting with Tracey Cade to discuss your needs as well as potential accommodations and services. 

Accommodations and services are provided once the initial process has been completed. Since the process can take time, we encourage students to begin the process well in advance of the start of their program or as soon as possible when a need arises so that services or accommodations can be coordinated in a timely way. Accommodations may be requested at any time but are not retroactive. 

Documentation is used to support the interactive process of exploring accommodation and services that will remove barriers. Our Documentation Guidelines provide information about what is needed, and our Documentation Form  can be completed by a qualified professional/provider.  If you have any difficulty providing documentation or need more information about any aspect of the process, please contact Tracey Cade in Student Disability Services. 

• Your SDS (Student Disability Services) advisor will initiate a conversation about the barriers you have faced historically and anticipate facing in your program. 
• Your accommodation request will be discussed, and additional accommodations may be suggested based on the conversation. 
• Student Rights and Responsibilities will be reviewed. 

Once accommodations are confirmed, an Affiliation Letter will be sent to you. You will be granted access to send out academic accommodation letters (if applicable) through the AIM Student Portal immediately following completion of the process.  Please remember that it is the student’s responsibility to log in each semester or term to send their academic accommodation letters to faculty. 

Disclosing all relevant information to Student Disability Services is essential to establishing an eligibility for services or accommodations and ensuring what is provided will be effective in meeting needs. Please visit our Confidentiality page for detailed information.

Students with injuries or concussion may need temporary accommodations for a short-term disability. Provisional accommodations may be provided while students are seeking an evaluation to determine the presence of a disability, or the specific services or accommodations needed. Please contact SON-SDS to discuss your situation and needs to determine what is possible. 

Johns Hopkins University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability, marital status or veteran status in any program or activity administered by the university, or with regard to admission or employment. 

More information about Appeals/Grievance Procedures for Student with Disabilities is available on the Office of Institutional Equity website.