Student Rights & Responsibilities

Student Disability Services is committed to providing a welcoming and helpful service for Johns Hopkins students with disabilities. The office makes every effort to respond to student requests as soon as possible. However, it takes time to arrange for accommodations and students must allow enough time for the office to make the necessary arrangements.

When making a request, please keep in mind

  1. All accommodations must first be approved based on proper documentation of a disability
  2. Make requests early
  3. Use AIM to make requests
  4. Monitor voicemail and email for messages regarding request

Accommodation Timeline

Approximate processing timeframe for various accommodations

  • Letter to instructor: up to one week
  • Notetakers: up to three weeks
  • Exams in our testing space: up to one week
  • Alternate format books: up to four weeks
  • Accessible classrooms: up to two weeks
  • FM/phone/internet wired classrooms: up to four weeks
  • Interpreters/CART: up to two weeks
  • Captioning: up to four weeks

Be sure to check JHU email and voicemail daily in case the office is trying to contact. If there is no reply, the office will stop working on the request until contact resumes with the information the office needs to process accommodations.

Letters to Instructors

If there are requests for accommodations that require the cooperation of the course instructor, the office will prepare a letter sent via email to each instructor that explains what accommodations are necessary. Letters will be prepared for the following types of requests:

  • Extended time on examinations
  • Testing in a private room
  • Interpreters
  • Captioning
  • Enlarged print
  • Any other accommodation that requires the cooperation of the instructor

Students are expected to meet privately with each instructor to discuss how the accommodations will be provided in each particular class.

Student Rights

  • Self-identify to Disability Support Services and seek classification as a student with a disability by following the Student Disability Services procedures for registering for services.
  • Terminate, and/or request changes to accommodations, auxiliary aids, and services, and/or modifications plans, at any time during their enrollment by contacting Student Disability Services.
  • Equal access to courses, programs, services, facilities and activities offered through the university.
  • An equal opportunity to learn.
  • Reasonable and appropriate accommodations and academic adjustments with the goal of diminishing the effect of a disability on academic functioning.
  • Appropriate confidentiality of information concerning their disability as required by federal and state law.
  • Respect and courtesy.
  • Not self-identify if accommodations are not being requested.

Student Responsibility

  • Meet the university’s qualifications and essential technical, academic, and institutional standards.
  • Advocate for their needs and seek information, address concerns, questions, issues, and assistance as necessary to be effective self-advocates.
  • Self-identify and follow all procedures for registration with Student Disability Services for requesting and obtaining reasonable and appropriate accommodations, including submission of appropriate professional documentation, identifying the disability, and detailing the functional limitations caused by the condition.
  • Read and respond to all correspondence from Student Disability Services in a timely manner.
  • Discuss accommodations with professors. Provide the accommodation letter and any additional documents (i.e. recorded lecture policy) each term to faculty.
  • Abide by the university’s standards and guidelines for behavior and academic integrity.
  • Provide for personal independent living needs or other personal disability-related needs.
  • Notify Student Disability Services if the approved accommodations are not working or are no longer needed.