10.4 Support for Students with Disabilities  

Minimum Student Capacities 
CUNY School of Law pioneered the model of integrating a lawyering curriculum with traditional doctrinal studies. The Minimum Student Capacities listed below are the minimum standards for successful participation in our educational program. CUNY School of Law is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to qualified students with disabilities to meet these goals. 

1. Engage in an appropriate and professional process to complete assignments. 

2. Demonstrate appropriate development of professional judgment, including accurate and timely completion of class responsibilities. 

3. Learn by engaging in self-criticism and constructively incorporating criticism from faculty, colleagues, supervisors, clients, staff and other professionals. 

4. Demonstrate the ability to integrate knowledge to establish appropriate critical judgment when acting in the role of lawyer. 

5. Demonstrate the ability to consider diverse opinions and work effectively and productively in groups. 

6. Effectively communicate with and maintain effective, professional relationships with faculty, colleagues, supervisors, clients, staff and other professionals. 

7. Possess the emotional and physical stability to function effectively under stress and adapt to changing environments inherent in classroom and practice setting. 

 At CUNY School of Law, students must meet both our academic standards and our Minimum Student Capacities, with or without reasonable accommodations. For additional information regarding support services for students with disabilities, please contact Disability Services at 718-340-4380. 

Reasonable Accommodations 

Student Disability Services (SDS) provides services and academic accommodations to CUNY Law students based on cognitive (learning), psychological, sensory, and physical disabilities. We also assist students navigating temporary conditions such as emergency medical situations, hospitalization and pregnancy.  

Students seeking to register with the office are encouraged to read through materials on the webpage, including general guidance on documentation, prior to formalizing their request via the Confidential Accommodation Request Form.  

Students are also welcome to email or call Student Disability Services anytime.

Student Disability Services 
DisabilityServices@Law.cuny.edu
CUNY School of Law 
2 Court Square, Long Island City, NY 11101-4356 
Tel: (718) 340-4448 

Pregnancy Related Accommodations  

Students requesting accommodation based on pregnancy, childbirth or a related medical condition should contact the Disability Services Office. Students may be asked to provide supporting documentation and engage in an interactive process, which may include considering a number of factors, such as the student’s limitations and the nature and requirements of the academic program, with the goal of finding an acceptable accommodation or academic adjustment.  

 There may be a need to consult with appropriate college officials, to determine program requirements and possible accommodations and adjustments. Reasonable accommodations or academic adjustments may include, but are not limited to, granting leaves of absence, providing take-home tests to students who are bedridden or homebound, allowing make-up tests and papers, or scheduling a meeting with the instructor for a student who had to miss class because of medical appointments or medical complications in order to make up missed content.  

A grant or denial of the request must be made as soon as practicable, taking into account the urgency of the request, and sent to the student in writing, either stating the accommodation, or for denials, the reason(s) the request was denied. 

For more information please visit: Accommodations based on Pregnancy, Childbirth or a Related Medical Condition 

Religious Accommodations  
Students requesting religious accommodation should contact Disability Services where they will engage in an interactive process with the goal of finding an acceptable accommodation.  

 The interactive process may include consideration of a variety of factors, such as the individual’s religious practices and the academic program’s functions and requirements. Reasonable accommodations may include, but are not limited to, flexible arrival and/or departure times, permission to make up a test or lecture, leave or assignment changes, time and/or space to pray, or accommodation relating to appearance or dress. 

CUNY generally will not question that a request for religious accommodation is based on a sincerely held belief. However, if CUNY has genuine reason to doubt that a belief qualifies as religious, or is sincerely held, CUNY may make a limited inquiry, asking for supporting documentation. The documentation submitted may include the requestor’s first-hand explanation, or explanations from others, such as a religious official or clergy member, who are aware of the religious practice or belief. 

A grant or denial of the request must be made in as soon as practicable, taking into account the urgency of the request, and sent in writing to the individual making the request, either stating the accommodation, or for denials, the reason(s) the request was denied. 

Consistent with New York State Education Law § 224-a, students who are absent from school because of a religious belief will be given the equivalent opportunity, without any additional fee charged, to register for classes or make up any examination, study or work requirements missed because of such absence on any particular day or days. 

For more information please visit: Religious Accommodations 

Appeal of Disability Accommodation & Academic Adjustment Decisions 
Students may appeal determinations concerning requested accommodations and academic adjustments by filing a written complaint with the 504/ADA Coordinator. The 504/ADA Coordinator, or a designee, will mediate to try to resolve the issues between the student and the College to find an acceptable accommodation. If a mutually acceptable accommodation cannot be determined, then the 504/ADA Coordinator, or a designee, will investigate the complaint and make a recommendation to the College President, who will make the decision concerning the complaint. If the student believes that a decision to deny the request was based on unlawful discrimination, then the student may exercise any and all rights available under law without fear of retaliation, including filing a complaint with the United States Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”).