Vision

To create an inclusive culture that celebrates disability as an area of diversity while ensuring equitable experiences for all students and learners.

Mission

Student Disability Services collaborates to create an inclusive community for students and learners with disabilities by proactively removing barriers, raising awareness of equitable practices, and fostering an appreciation of disability as an area of diversity while utilizing a wide range of approaches from universal design to individualized accommodations.

Who We Serve

Our office serves graduate students within the Engineering for Professionals (EP) Program and learners in Lifelong Learning (LL) programs in the Whiting School of Engineering. For students whose primary program is not EP, here is a list of disability services staff by school. For other information related to University-wide offerings, please review the university’s student accommodations page.

Approximately 6% of the student population across JHU (university-wide) receives services from SDS.

Requesting Accommodation

Following admission to EP and before your classes or program begin, immediately contact the Student Disability Services to discuss procedures, review written policies, and to address any disability-related concerns.

This applies to new students/learners and current/continuing students/learners who are requesting accommodations for the first time. While students/learners can request accommodations at any time, it is extremely beneficial to request  an accommodations letter in advance of a semester or course as certain services and accommodations may require significant advanced planning.

Note: Students with injuries or concussion may need temporary accommodations while experiencing a short-term disability. Those requesting temporary accommodations follow the same process as those seeking permanent accommodations. Temporary accommodations will be noted in the learner’s file and can be extended or amended if needed with accompanying documentation.

If you are in the process of seeking an evaluation to determine the presence of a disability or the specific services or accommodations needed, provisional accommodations may also be provided while your needs are being determined

New Students/Learners

To begin the registration process with Student Disability Services and to establish eligibility for disability-related accommodations and services, please complete the AIM Registration Form and upload supporting documentation.

Supporting documentation should be from a qualified diagnostician, and identify the type of disability, describe the current level of functioning in an academic setting, and list recommended accommodations. Please review the Documentation Guidelines for Individuals with Disabilities for more information on supporting documentation.

Once your form and documentation are received, the next step in the process will be to meet with an SDS professional staff member to discuss your needs and potential accommodations. Student Disability Services reviews all documentation and works in partnership with students/learners to determine the most effective and timely accommodations.

If you have any difficulty providing documentation or need more information about any aspect of the process, please contact Allison Leventhal at [email protected].

Returning Students

Students/Learners with previously approved accommodations can request an Accommodations letter using the AIM Student Portal and by following the Student Guidelines for Requesting Accommodation through AIM. The portal will be accessed using your Hopkins JHED ID and password. Single sign on will work after the first time if you use it.

Letters will be sent directly to faculty on your behalf. To view a copy of your letter please go to your AIM “mailbox”.

You may request additions or changes to existing accommodations by logging on to the AIM portal and selecting “Change Existing or Add New Accommodations”

Please note: Students/Learners who are still in the process of getting accommodations approved or submitting documentation, should contact SDS at [email protected]

if you have any questions about next steps in that process. The AIM Student Portal will be available for you to login once you are approved to use accommodations.

Student Status

Students in special student status or provisional status follow the same procedures as outlined above.

Students in dual degree programs will follow the procedures established by the school or division in which the courses are taught.

Confidentiality/Self Advocacy

Disclosing all relevant information to Student Disability Services (SDS) is essential to establishing eligibility for services or accommodations and ensuring what is provided will be effective in meeting needs. Once registered with SDS and approved to use accommodations or services, students/learners have a choice about how much information is shared beyond that point and students/learners retain the right to request/use accommodations or to elect not to. Disclosure is a personal choice and students/learners are always free to provide whatever information they are comfortable sharing. Student Disability Services processes preserve confidentiality for students/learners who prefer to disclose only what is needed to instructors or others related to their academic program(i.e. their letter of approved accommodations/services.)

Reporting Concerns

For any concerns with disability-related requests, accommodations, or services, please refer to JHU’s Grievance Procedures for Students with Disabilities page.

Contact us

Allison Leventhal

Information for Faculty

Please visit the university’s faculty resources page where you will find information including a sample syllabus statement, guidelines for teaching students/learners with disabilities, universal design for your course, rights and responsibilities, types of disabilities, and FAQs.