Neurodiversity and Disability at Stanford

Accommodations look different for everyone - they can range from additional time on exams to housing accommodations. However, there are two categories of accommodations you should be aware of: temporary and ongoing accommodations.

Documentation refers to the collection of relevant information and records, written by a licensed professional (think doctor, therapist, dietitian, etc.), that support a person's disability claim. This can include a formal diagnosis, a description of the functional limitations imposed by the disability, and a management plan outlining any medications or accommodations that you need.

Most documentation is provided by a doctor or clinician who has worked with the student before. However, the exact level of documentation needed varies on a case-by-case basis. If you're in need of documentation, your OAE advisor will work with you to identify providers who can help!

While the OAE is still responsible for determining and documenting the specific housing/dining accommodations you need, your actual housing assignment is left to Stanford Residential and Dining Enterprises (R&DE). Every time you apply for housing, you'll need to submit a Housing Accommodations Request Form through the OAE detailing what kinds of living accommodations you'll need. The form for the next academic year typically opens during spring quarter - be proactive in filling it out, and be as specific as possible when detailing your needs.

If your request is granted, you, as well as anyone in your draw group, will receive a housing assignment that meets your needs. R&DE will notify you of your new assignment around the end of the school year.

Don't worry - your status with the OAE is 100% confidential. Any statements of accommodation you receive will never reveal information about what conditions you have. Furthermore, your accommodation status at Stanford will not appear on your transcripts or official records. Still, many students may feel uncomfortable disclosing so much personal information. While applying for accommodations, keep in mind that you are not obligated to report any medical information that is not relevant to your accommodations.

Regardless of what accommodations you're seeking, your first step will be to register with the OAE at oaeconnect.stanford.edu. While you can submit any formal documentation you have, you don't need anything to register. Shortly afterwards, you'll hear back from your disability advisor, an OAE staff member whose job is to help you navigate the accommodations process and, if need be, obtain formal documentation. Disability advisors also hold regular info sessions about assistive software and technology that might be helpful to you.

However, your relationship with your disability advisor doesn't end once you've gotten an OAE letter! Your advisor is there to serve as a permanent source of personalized support as you adjust to campus life. They'll lend an ear to any question about navigating the college environment with a disability.

This is Stanford Health Care's outpatient psychiatry clinic. Here, you can obtain a formal assessment of conditions including autism, OCD, ADHD, and mood/anxiety disorders. Stanford students can self-refer to this clinic by completing an online registration form. Afterwards, create a MyHealth account with Stanford Healthcare so that you can track updates and appointments. A New Patient Coordinator will contact you to discuss what services you need. Find Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Clinic's location via Google Maps.

Schwab Learning Center offers formal evaluations of learning disabilities like ADHD, dyslexia, dyscalculia, and more, as well as 1:1 academic coaching with learning specialists. These evaluations are held with a licensed psychologist in-person at CHC over multiple sessions spanning several months.

Stanford students seeking an evaluation can request one through this link. These are free if you have at least one year of enrollment left before graduation. There is typically a 3-4 month waiting period between registration and the first evaluation session, so register early if you need urgent accommodations. People with referrals to SLC from a licensed professional are prioritized over those who self-refer. Find Schwab Learning Center at Children’s Health Council's location via Google Maps.

The Neurodiversity Clinic is a specialty clinic housed within the Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences building. It provides formal evaluations of autism, along with any co-occurring conditions like depression, anxiety, OCD, and ADHD. Unlike other outpatient psychiatry services, Stanford students cannot self-refer to this clinic. One of your current providers will need to submit a referral before you can schedule an appointment. Keep in mind that the neurodiversity clinic has a limited number of clinicians and is only open a few days a month, so space may be limited.

• Address: 401 Quarry Road, Stanford, CA.
• Telephone: 650.498.9111                              

CAPS division of Vaden Health offers ADHD Consultations to support students in connecting with assessments, academic support and other campus resources. CAPS also offers referral support for students with ADHD who are interested in continuing medication but not interested in an ADHD consultation. 

• Call CAPS at 650.723.3785 and request an ADHD consultation or referral support for ADHD medication.
• Cost: FREE for Stanford students

The Center for Teaching and Learning offers learning programs and tutoring/coaching services designed to teach transferable academic skills and help both undergraduate and graduate students become self-directed learners. CTL offers tailored programs, resources, and coaching/tutoring services designed specifically for students managing ADHD or learning differences (ADHD/LD). 

Services Include

• Academic coaching from professionals specializing in ADHD/LD.
• One-on-one subject tutoring with tutors trained to work with students with ADHD/LD.
• Academic programs and workshops focused on executive functioning skills.
• Resource handouts, study halls, and other resources available to all Stanford students.

Students who provide documentation of ADHD/LD will be able to apply for structured, longitudinal (i.e. quarter-long) academic coaching and tutoring at studentlearning.stanford.edu. However, students without documentation can still access the same resources and professionals! They just won't be assigned a dedicated coach/tutor.

The SDA is a student-led advocacy group dedicated to fostering community and improving conditions on campus for all students with disabilities.

• Mailing list: stanford-disability-alliance@lists.stanford.edu

NSSP is a student group that aims to promote visibility and build community among neurodiverse students and allies. NSSP hosts periodic meetings, social mixers, and tabling sessions

• Mailing list: neurodiversestudents@lists.stanford.edu

DisCo is the first ever space on campus dedicated to the disability community. It's stocked with fidgets, adjustable lamps, and other amenities to maximize comfort and accessibility! Find DisCo's location via the Stanford Searchable Map

SMADIE is open to all in the School of Medicine and is dedicated to promoting disability advocacy / equity for patients, as well as building community among aspiring healthcare workers who are committed to disability justice. Access the SMADIE website here

Use social theories of difference to examine the intersections of disability, race and culture by drawing from scholarship published in history, sociology of education, urban sociology, cultural studies, disability studies, social studies of science, cultural psychology, educational and cultural anthropology, comparative education and special education. Implications for policy, research and practice will be covered.

Explore the biosocial, biopolitical, and sociopolitical nature of disability and attend to intersectionality in relation to education systems. Build strong repertoires of transdisciplinary knowledge that can be applied in fields or interests such as humanities, history, and biosciences.

Deepen student understanding of how disability intersects with a variety of identities that can mask or foreground forms of difference.Engage with the Stanford community around constructions of disability and the diverse perspectives that inform these complex constructions.

• For any questions regarding these EDUC courses, reach out via email here

• For more information, visit the following link.

How do assistive technologies like captions and speech recognition affect how creators and audiences engage with digital media? In this course, we will explore "creative access" in the arts and media. Students will collaborate with recognized disabled media artists reimagining art through accessibility, from developing character creators for non-visual gamers to creating media instruments for bed-bound individuals.

Through guest lectures, workshops, and case studies, students will work on a self-designed project—such as accessible media art or a curatorial proposal. This class offers insight into the practices of professional artists and designers, preparing students to engage with disability justice in communication and storytelling. No prior artistic experience is needed, and the course does not fulfill WR1 or WR2 requirements.

• For any questions regarding these PWR courses, reach out to Lindsey Felt here