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AccessAbility Center

Envisioning an academic culture defined by equitable access to education

Working collaboratively with students, faculty, and staff to create an inclusive educational environment for students.

The AccessAbility Center/Student Disability Services (AAC/SDS) ensures full participation and meaningful access to all of City College’s and CUNY School of Medicine’s services, programs, and activities that correspond with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, The Amendments Act of 2008, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Fair Housing Act of 1968, and other applicable Federal, State, and local non-discrimination laws.  AAC/SDS accomplishes this goal through the coordination and implementation of academic adjustments, auxiliary aids, and support services for students with disabilities.  The Center actively works toward full inclusion in policies, procedures, and practices in the context of accessibility while maintaining essential academic and technical standards.  AAC/SDS engages in increasing disability awareness among members of the City College community through workshops, trainings, and the dissemination of literature.

Diana Cuozzo is the 504/ADA coordinator. Ms. Cuozzo is charged with ensuring that college programs, policies and procedures comply with the American Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 501 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and other Federal and State laws and regulations pertaining to persons with disabilities. She is reachable by phone at 212.650.6310, or in person in Shepard Hall, Room 109.

Non-Discrimination Policy

The City College and The City University of New York are committed to addressing discrimination complaints promptly, consistently and fairly. Any City College employee, student, applicant for admission or employment or other participant in the College’s programs or activities who believes he or she has been unlawfully discriminated against on the basis of age, color, disability, national or ethnic origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status may file a complaint in writing with the Office of Diversity and Compliance using the Discrimination Complaint Form, by e-mail to the Diana Cuozzo at [email protected] or by stopping in the EEO Compliance office in Shepard Hall, Room 109.

Registering with the AcessAbility Center/Student Disability Services (click here)

Forms (Please find necessary forms and resources for securing accommodations at the link provided here)

Campus Accessibility (click here to see entire CCNY campus access page)

CUNY School of Medicine is located in Harris Hall, which is wheelchair accessible from the quad side/Convent Avenue entrance. Accessibility features of Harris Hall include:

    • Elevator
    • Accessible bathrooms on 2nd and 3rd floors
    • Accessible classroom furniture available upon request
    • Wheelchair accessible water fountain on 3rd floor

Staff Profiles

AccessAbility FAQ

The CCNY AccessAbility Center/Student Disability Services (AAC/SDS) office handles all requests for accommodation and services. You can contact Sara Weissman at [email protected] to learn more about the services offered by AAC/SDS and what options are available to you.

Exams can either be taken at a location at CUNY School of Medicine determined by the administering faculty, or at the AccessAbility Center. To request proctoring through AccessAbility Center, please submit the Exam Accommodation Form at least one week in advance of the exam.

Details of the process for seeking accommodation can be found on the CCNY AccessAbility website. After applying, students complete an intake with AAC/SDS staff, who will make a determination based on the information provided. During the intake, the student and Access Specialist will discuss the student’s current and previous disability experiences and will finalize the accommodations the student has requested. Self-disclosure and what is mentioned in any supporting documents will be taken into account when approving accommodations.

There are several low-cost and sliding-scale clinics in the area that can provide evaluations. You can find these clinics listed here.

Yes, as long as the student provides documentation that includes the disabilities they are requesting accommodations for, they may receive accommodations that address either or all disabilities. (For example, receiving extra time on exams due to a mental/cognitive disability and receiving assistive furniture like a standing desk due to a physical disability.)

No, registration and intakes are administered on a rolling basis throughout the year. It is suggested that students try to initiate the registration process before the beginning of the semester so that they can receive accommodations in a timely manner.

If all required documentation is in order, the approval process will likely take up to 14 days. If the request is incomplete or additional documentation is required, this might delay the timeline.

Once approved, disability documentation does not need to be renewed unless there is an update, change, or new development to the student’s disability. The only documentation that needs to be renewed is their Accommodation Memo that is provided to their professor or appropriate faculty member. Students must submit a Memo Request form each semester to receive an updated Accommodation Memo (Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer), which is then distributed by the student (or by the AAC if given permission by the student) to professors and faculty.

Your diagnosis and all supporting documentation will be kept confidential. The only information shared with faculty is an approved accommodations memo, which is shared with faculty on a “need to know” basis. Only the Associate Deans of Student Affairs will know which students are registered with AAC and what accommodations they receive, as they are directly involved in coordinating accommodations and disability services.

Students must email their Accommodation Memo to any faculty that will be involved in the coordination of their accommodations. The Accommodation Memo is the official document that allows faculty to provide accommodations to students. Students receive their Accommodation Memo after their intake with their assigned Access Specialist. 

If you have concerns about being able to afford and access services after evaluating the providers listed here, the Student Affairs team will work with you to find other solutions to get you the evaluation and care you need.

The Office of Student Affairs and AccessAbility Center staff can guide you through applying for USMLE Exam accommodations. You should begin the application process as early as possible. The USMLE review can take up to 60 days. Failure to submit an early application can result in a delayed timeline for USMLE exam registration. You will not be able to register for the exam until you have a response from USMLE. You must also be registered with the AccessAbility Center to be approved for any accommodations for USMLE exams. The application requires:

  1. Documentation of disability from an evaluating or treating physician/health provider
  2. A personal statement
  3. Record or receipt of previous or recent exam accommodation. (This can be provided by the AccessAbility Center in the form of a letter of support.

It is recommended that students contact Associate Dean of Student Affairs, Madiha Akhtar and Access Specialist Sara Weissman to navigate the accommodations to the USLME accommodations process. You can view all guidelines for requesting accommodations for USMLE exams here.

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