From campus visits to accommodations, this FAQ page answers common questions about working with the Office of Accessible Education so you can feel confident and prepared as you plan your Stanford experience.
FAQ
Yes! We are happy to meet with prospective students to provide you with a broad overview of the OAE’s services. Determination of the specific accommodations appropriate for individual students is done after admission to the University.
We suggest you coordinate your visit to the OAE with a tour of the campus and an information session.
No. The Office of Accessible Education does not play a role in the admissions process, and visiting the OAE has no impact on your chances for admission; it is simply an opportunity for you to learn about services for students with disabilities.
No. Students with disabilities follow the same process and are reviewed in the same manner as other applicants. Find out more at Undergraduate Admissions or Graduate Admissions.
Disclosure of disability is a personal decision and a prospective student is not obligated to self-identify prior to admission. Stanford does a holistic review that looks at your achievements within your personal context. Learn more at Undergraduate Admissions.
Although you are not required to disclose your disability, it may be helpful to do so if it explains other material in your application. For example, a student whose grades dropped temporarily due to a flare-up of a medical condition might wish to explain those circumstances.
Upon acceptance, incoming students are advised to contact the OAE as soon as possible. Because accommodations require advanced planning, early identification of a student’s needs helps to facilitate arrangements and accommodations being made in a timely manner.
No. You should not send reports such as a medical, psychological, psychiatric or psycho-educational evaluation directly to Undergraduate Admission or any other university office. Professional documentation should only be provided to the OAE after a student is admitted to Stanford.
We ask that students submit documentation soon after they are accepted to Stanford. Visit the Registering for OAE Accommodations webpage for specific information.
The OAE provides a number of academic accommodations that include, but are not limited to, testing accommodations, interpreting, real-time captioning (CART), note-taker services, document conversion into alternate formats (e.g., digital, audio, large print, Braille), and housing modifications. Please refer to the Academic Accommodations section.
- DisGo, now managed by Stanford Transportation, offers complimentary curb-to-curb service to all eligible students, faculty, or staff with a disability or medical condition. For more information or to schedule your rides, please go to DisGo or call 415.404.1059.
- The Marguerite Shuttle is Stanford's free transit system, open to the Stanford community and the public. The main shuttle lines traverse the campus Monday – Friday all year (except University holidays). All buses are wheelchair accessible and have bike racks. Please visit the Parking and Transportation options page for further information.
The Center for Teaching and Learning does offer free tutoring for any Stanford student; information on their program and policies can be found on their site. Students can also be referred to professionals within the community for individual tutoring at the student's expense.
Stanford provides a rich and varied residential community for both undergraduate and graduate students. For undergraduates there are traditional residence halls, apartments, suites, small group houses (cooperative houses, Greek houses), and theme and focus houses.
For graduate students, studios, individual apartments, shared apartments and family housing are available. Among each kind of different housing configuration there are accessible living options. Depending on individualized needs, modifications to a room or residence may also be made (e. g., installation of power door, or horns and strobe alarms, carpet pulled up). The University also has accessible, ADA furniture. Please refer to the Housing Accommodations section.
The foreign language requirement is not waived for students with disabilities. Stanford students are required to complete one year of college-level study in a foreign language (or the equivalent). The Stanford Language Center offers 40+ languages and can offer guidance to students towards choosing one that best fits with their functional limitations. More information can be found on the Language Center’s website.
In rare instances and on a case-by-case basis, a substitution request will be considered. Students with documented disabilities should provide documentation to the OAE for verification and submit a petition for a substitution to the Language Center. Students are encouraged to talk to their Disability Adviser about any concerns with language learning as early as possible.
Transitioning your Medical and Mental Health Care
If you have a health condition that requires continued medical care we recommend that you speak to your primary care clinician or specialist prior to coming to Stanford in order to plan your transition of care to the university setting.
Transitioning to College Websites
College brings exciting opportunities — and new systems to navigate. Learn how to transition smoothly and take charge of your academic and campus life.