Student Services & Support

Disability Services

professor meeting with studentsBank Street College posits that disability is a feature of a person’s diversity, not something to be viewed negatively (Gill, 1994). We recognize disability as a characteristic of diversity that is at the heart of society and the college community. Therefore, we encourage students to self-identify and to provide further information as soon as possible after admission to the College so that they may receive the support and reasonable accommodations that will make their learning more accessible.

The Disability Services Office at Bank Street College provides reasonable accommodations to Bank Street graduate students with disabilities. If you have a diagnosed disability or suspect that you may have a disability, contact Kim McLeveighn, Director of Student Learning Support, at kmcleveighn@bankstreet.edu or at dso@bankstreet.edu. You can also call Kim at 212-875-4462. The Disability Services Office is located in Room 811 at 610 West 112th Street.

Gill, C. (1994). Two models of disability. Chicago Institute of Disability: University of Chicago


  • What DSO Offers

    Reasonable Academic Accommodations may include:

    • Facilitating note-taking in your class
    • Sign language interpreters
    • Extended time to hand in assignments
    • Prioritizing readings
    • Reasonable modifications to assignments
    • Assistive devices

    In addition, you will be involved in ongoing consultation with the Coordinator of Disability Services throughout your time at the College.

    The College provides reasonable accommodations that maintain the content focus, skills development, goals, and general integrity of each course, field experience, and related assignments. For example, although the College may be required to provide extended time to submit assignments, it is not required to change the substantive content of the assignments. In addition, the College does not have to make modifications that would fundamentally alter the nature of a service, program, or activity that would result in undue financial or administrative burdens.

    College Requirements for Accommodations:

    The College may be required to remove any barriers impeding the student—architectural or communication- or transportation-related—or to provide reasonable modifications to rules, policies, or practices. The College may provide aids or services such as interpreters, note-takers, adaptive equipment, relocation of classes to accessible environments, audio recordings, computer programs, allowance of service animals, alteration of materials, or substitution of certain courses in programs. The College is not required to meet personal needs such as glasses, hearing aids, etc. Tutoring may be considered a personal need and is available to all students, contingent on the resources and schedule availability of the program.

  • Steps to Register

    Review a letter that describes the process here (pdf)

    Step 1:

    Set up a meeting with Kim McLeveighn, Director of Student Learning Support by emailing her at kmcleveighn@bankstreet.edu or at dso@bankstreet.edu. This meeting does not obligate you to register with the office; it simply enables you to learn more or ask questions.

    Step 2:

    If the Coordinator of the Disability Services Office determines that you may be eligible to register, you will need to bring in documentation of your disability and the way it affects your learning. This documentation will be kept confidential. Please see further details about the nature of this documentation in the FAQ tab.

    Step 3:

    The Coordinator of the Disability Services Office will review your documentation. If a determination of eligibility is made, you will meet to talk about what kinds of reasonable accommodations and/or services will best support your learning. Please see the accommodations tab for more information. You will receive a letter outlining the accommodations you are entitled to;  you can then choose to share this with faculty. The Coordinator of the Disability Services Office remains a resource to you during your entire time at Bank Street.

  • Students' Rights Under the Law

    Section 504 of the rehabilitation act of 1973 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA, 1990) govern the accommodations that the College provides students with disabilities. The law states: “No otherwise qualified handicapped individual in the U.S. shall, solely by reason of handicap, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.”

    Some of the specific academic implications of this law include:

    • No student can be excluded from any course, major, or program solely on the basis of a disability.
    • Certain accommodations are mandated, such as the provision of alternate testing and evaluation methods for measuring student mastery.
    • Modifications, substitutions, or waivers of a course, major, or degree requirement may be necessary to meet the needs of some students.
    • It is discriminatory to restrict the range of career options for students with disabilities as compared to non-disabled students with similar interests and abilities, unless such advice is based on strict licensing or certification requirements that may constitute an obstacle.
  • Definition of Terms Related to Disability and Accommodations

    What constitutes a “disability?”
    The law protects anyone who has a “physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.” This covers physical, sensory and health-related disabilities, psychological disorders or attention disorders, and some learning disabilities–anything that might prevent the student from participating fully in the life of the campus community.

    Who is “otherwise qualified?”
    Any individual with a disability who has the ability, skills, and education to perform the essential functions of a job either with or without reasonable accommodations is considered “otherwise qualified.”

    What constitutes an “accommodation?”
    Any change or adjustment in a work or school site, program, or job that makes it possible for an otherwise qualified employee or student with a disability to perform the duties or tasks required.

    What are “reasonable accommodations?”
    When a requested accommodation causes undue hardship to an institution, said accommodation may be deemed to be unreasonable. Factors considered in determining undue hardship include the overall financial resources of the organization, the nature and cost of the accommodation, and the impact of providing the accommodation on the particular site or operation of the institution.

  • Self-Advocacy

    As you begin to understand the factors that affect your learning in Graduate School, it is important to advocate for yourself. When working with your instructors and advisor, you are encouraged to be proactive, take some risks, and assume responsibility by identifying the approaches that support your learning needs.

FAQs

  • Is my disability status kept confidential?

    At Bank Street, it is entirely up to the student to inform instructors of her or his needs. Neither instructors nor advisors will be automatically notified by the Disability Services Office about a student’s disability. However, the Registrar’s Office is required by federal law to keep a list of students who are registered with Disability Services Office.

  • May the College deny my admission because I have a disability?

    No. If you meet the requirements for admission, the College may not deny your admission because you have a disability.

  • Do I have to inform the College that I have a disability?

    No. However, if you request accommodations, you must identify yourself as having a disability. Your disclosure of a disability is always voluntary.

  • What documentation do I need to provide?

    The College requires you to provide documentation of your disability and the ways it may impact your learning. This documentation must be prepared by an appropriate professional such as a medical doctor, psychologist, or other qualified diagnostician. The required documentation may include one or more of the following: a diagnosis of your current disability, the date of the diagnosis, how the diagnosis was reached, the credentials of the professional, how your disability affects a major life activity, and how the disability affects your academic performance. The documentation should provide enough information for you and the Director of Student Learning Support to determine what is an appropriate academic accommodation.

  • When should I inform the College I have a disability?

    Requesting an accommodation as early as possible is the best way to ensure your successful transition into Graduate School.

  • Can an accommodation be “retroactive?”

    No. You can only request accommodations at the beginning of your studies at Bank Street or at the beginning of a course. If a disability arises for which you request accommodations after your admission into the College or after a course is already in session, you must notify the Director of Student Learning Support as soon as the disability is diagnosed. However, you cannot expect accommodations for a disability disclosed to the office after you have received a grade for a course or after you have handed in an assignment within a course. When accommodations are granted, they begin on or after the date of approval.

Guide For People With Disabilities

This guide explains how people with disabilities can receive low-cost internet and cellphone services. It also includes information on how to get free low-cost devices and enroll in programs that foster digital literacy. The guide serves as a blueprint to ensure people with disabilities can:

  • Find low-cost internet service providers and phone carriers
  • Receive certain discounts
  • Boost their digital literacy
  • Use current technology regardless of their income and employment status