Disability Resources

Disability Laws as they apply to Private Higher Education Institutions

Higher education institutions adhere to different disability laws than high schools. At the college level, accommodations are only provided when the student has self-identified as having a functional impairment that substantially limits major life functioning. Students attending high school are protected by IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) which allows schools to make curricular changes for students with disabilities. At the college level, all students with disabilities must be “otherwise qualified”; therefore, they are required to meet the academic and technical skills for their respective program. It is important that all students understand that SVA will not modify exams or curriculum, and standards for grading are determined by the instructor. The American's with Disabilities Act and Amendments govern the decisions pertaining to accommodations for disabilities at the SVA.  

For more information on the transition process from high school to college, please refer to the document, Making the Transition, which you can download below.

Students who wish to receive accommodations at the School of Visual Arts must register with Disability Resources by completing the New Student Registration form below.

Click Here to Complete Disability Resources Registration Form

Please also download the following documents from the right side menu of our homepage.

How to Get Accommodations at SVA

Download the Authorization for Release of Information form below

(only complete this form if you want Disability Resources staff to contact the professional who is providing verification of your disability)

Students must contact Disability Resources EVERY Semester they wish to receive accommodations. Below is a video showing students how to renew their accommodations.

Students can renew their accommodations via the MyAccommodate link located under "Quick Links" on MySVA.

Click Here to Log On to MySVA

Students must obtain updated accommodation letters each semester by submitting a Semester Request via MyAccommodate. Updated accommodation letters must be given to students by their instructors at the beginning of each semester. Photo copies of previous accommodation letters are insufficient. SVA faculty are not required to provide a student with accommodations unless the student has provided an appropriately dated accommodation letter. 

Updated accommodation letters may be picked up at ODS two business days after you submit your Semester Request. You may pick up your letters from our Office Assistant any time Monday - Friday between the hours of 9am-5pm.

If you would like to make changes to your letter or want to speak with Disability Resources staff, please stop into the office to meet with a staff member. 

To request an appointment please e-mail disabilityresources@sva.edu.

Students must schedule exams with Disability Resources to receive exam accommodations. Students who choose to take exams in-class will not be able to receive their full exam accommodations. 

All exams must be scheduled with Disability Resources at least 7 business days prior to the in-class exam dates. Late requests will be considered on a case by case basis.

To schedule exams with Disability Resources 

1. Log in to myid.sva.edu
2. Select My Accommodate 
3. Select Testing Room 
4. Click on New Booking Request 
5. Select the course the exam is in
6. Make sure the date range includes the date of your test, adjust if necessary. 
7. Click on Refine Results on the bottom left
8. Select the date and time of your exam on the right
9. Please note, we do not give exams after 5pm, if your class starts at 6pm or later, please select a 12pm time slot.
10. Complete the Exam Request Form
11. Select 90 minutes for quizzes and 270 minutes for exams (We will follow up with your instructor on the exact length of the exam or quiz)
12. Click Submit Request
13. You will receive an email when your request has been submitted and another email when your exam time has been approved. (Disability Resources and the Instructor have the final say on when exams and quizzes are administered).

Student’s Responsibilities:

1. Students must provide their instructors with a copy of their accommodation letter
2. Students must complete an exam request form at least 7 business days prior to the exam date. Late requests will be considered on a case by case basis.
3. Students must arrive on time to the scheduled exam. Students who are more than 15 minutes late may not be allowed to take the exam and will need to contact their instructor.
4. Students must surrender their cell phones and other communication devices to Disability Resources’ staff during testing.
5. Students must adhere to SVA’s policies regarding academic integrity. This policy is found in the SVA Student Handbook. 

Click Here to Log on to MySVA

Residential Accommodation Requests

In accordance with applicable local, state, and federal disability laws the School of Visual Arts will provide reasonable residential accommodations to individuals who have a disability.

A disability defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act includes anyone who has a qualifying physical or psychological impairment and/or a record of such an impairment, or is regarded as having such an impairment.

Accommodations for housing are determined on a case-by-case basis and are subject to availability. Students are encouraged to inform the college of their accommodation needs as early as possible in the residential assignment process.

In order to request residential accommodations, students must be eligible for housing and must meet all of the applicable housing deposit and deadline regulations. A request for residential accommodations must be submitted by:

2021 Summer – Requests must be made by April 10, 2021

2021-2022 Academic Year – Requests must be made by June 1, 2021

Requests for residential accommodations received after these dates will be reviewed and considered but are not guaranteed.

Common Accommodations

• Single Room – shared bathroom
• Physical Modifications – wheelchair accessibility, modifications for hearing impaired or Deaf students, temporary modifications to accommodate an injury
• Furniture – SVA provides furniture that meets specific fire and safety criteria. Students must demonstrate an accommodation need for non-college provided furniture.

Please note the following:

• Roommate requests are not accommodations.

Accommodation Request Process

Students must register with Disability Resources by completing an online registration form in the Requesting Accommodations section, above.

Review Process

Disability Resources will review each residential accommodation request on an individual basis and will make a determination. Disability Resources staff will work with Residence Life to implement the accommodations. Accommodation decisions will be communicated to the student by Disability Resources. Housing assignments will be communicated to the student by the Office of Residence Life.

Disability Resources provides the following services and resources:

Accommodation Determination Decisions

Arrangement of Accommodations

Weekly or Bi-weekly individual counseling/coaching on issues pertaining to: adjusting to college life, academics, adjusting to a disability, stress management, time-management, anxiety management, study skills, communication skills, self-advocacy skills, and socialization skills. 

Drop-in Counseling or Crisis Intervention

Exam Proctoring/Distraction Reduced Testing Environment

Arrangement of ASL interpreting or CART services

Captioning Services (in collaboration with the Office of Learning Technology)

Consultation with Faculty/Staff

Please note: personal services such as: content-specific tutoring, personal aides, or assistance in bathing, grooming, food preparation, housekeeping, and assistance ambulating are not deemed reasonable accommodations. Additionally, individually prescribed devices, such as hearing aids, glasses, braces, wheelchairs, or other mobility devices are to be purchased by the student.

Regular Hours:

Monday – Friday, 9:00am – 5:00pm

Summer Business Hours (June – August):

Monday – Thursday, 9:00am – 5:00pm

Friday, 9:00am – 3:00pm

Contact Information:

Telephone: 212.592.2396

Fax: 212.592.2899

E-mail: disabilityresources@sva.edu

Mailing Address:

School of Visual Arts

Office of Disability Services

209 East 23 Street

New York, NY 10010

Staff Members:

Caryn Leonard-Wilde, MS.Ed., CRC., Associate Director of Disability Resources

Annemarie Veira, MS.Ed., CRC., Coordinator of Disability Resources