In 1978, Barnard established a program to provide services for students with disabilities which enhance their educational, pre-professional and personal development. The Office of Disability Services (ODS) serves students with visual, mobility and hearing impairments and students with invisible disabilities such as chronic medical conditions, learning disabilities/ADD, psychiatric disabilities and substance use/recovery.

ODS works with other administrators and members of the faculty to assist students with disabilities in participating in college activities, securing financial aid, scheduling classes and examinations and planning careers. Mobility aides, readers, notetakers and other accommodative aides are available on request.

ODS is staffed by a full-time director and assistant and a part-time learning disabilities coordinator. For current staff information, please click here.

ODS publications include the Barnard College Policy on the Admission of Students with Disabilities and four services brochures: What ODS Can Do For You,  A Parent Guide to Disability Services, Survival Tools for LD Students and Assisting Students with Temporary Disabilities. For additional disability-related publications, please go the publications link.

The 504/ADA Access Committee works to reduce architectural, programmatic and attitudinal barriers at the College. The BAID Network (Barnard Alumnae Involved with Disabilities) provides students with access to disabled alumnae in a broad range of careers.

The buildings on the contiguous campus interconnect and are wheelchair accessible. Maps of the Barnard, Columbia and Teachers College campuses showing special features and access routes are available at ODS, and an online access map of the Barnard campus is available.

Other Barnard student services that may also be helpful for ODS students include:

• Well-Woman

• Health Services

• The Furman Counseling Center

• Residential Life and Housing

• Dining Services