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Getting to Know the Office
Quick Facts about the Office
The Office of Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) serves approximately 400 undergraduate, graduate, professional-school, and School of Continuing Studies students between the Evanston and Chicago campuses. Northwestern, similar to most colleges and universities, does not have special admission criteria for students with disabilities; therefore, students with disabilities have met the same rigorous admissions standards that all Northwestern students have. The majority of students registered with the office have invisible disabilities such as learning disabilities, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, chronic health impairments, or psychological disabilities.
Our Mission
A pile of bookbags and a full coat rack are familiar sights when SSD proctors exams.
Our mission is to ensure that Northwestern students with disabilities can fully participate in academic programming and all other facets of University life on the Evanston and Chicago campuses. To fulfill its mission, SSD has five primary goals:
- Gather and evaluate documentation, information, and requests to determine eligibility for accommodations and services.
- Provide, coordinate and facilitate reasonable accommodations and services.
- Recommend modifications to improve access to University facilities and transportation services.
- Provide information and training on disability-related topics to University faculty and staff.
- Serve as a resource on disability information for the University community and visitors.
