About the Office

Northwestern University is proud to welcome and support a diverse student body. By removing some of the barriers to education that students with disabilities often experience, we hope to create a learning environment that encourages and challenges all students.

Northwestern University provides a variety of services to assist students with disabilities in becoming active members of the University community. Services vary according to the type and level of impairment experienced by each student. The majority of these services are coordinated by the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD).

Mission Statement

The mission of Services for Students with Disabilities is to ensure that all undergraduate, graduate and professional school students with disabilities can fully participate in academic programming and all other facets of University life on the Chicago and Evanston campuses. To fulfill this mission, Services for Students with Disabilities has five primary goals:

I. Gather and evaluate documentation, information and requests to determine eligibility for accommodations and services.

II. Provide, coordinate and facilitate reasonable accommodations and services.

III. Recommend modifications to improve access to University facilities and transportation services.

IV. Provide information and training on disability-related topics to University faculty and staff.

V. Serve as a resource on disability information for the University community and visitors.