Students

Important Message from HRL:

ATTENTION class of 2026 - PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWing:

If you are currently (1) approved for SDAO housing accommodations AND (2) are away from Duke and returning to campus in Spring 2025, our records indicate that you are eligible to apply for Spring 2025 Semester housing.

In the Fall 2024 semester, we experienced an unprecedented number of accommodations, specifically single rooms and private bathrooms. In an effort to offer full transparency, we currently have approximately 25 students with accommodations for the Fall 2024 semester on a waiting list for assignment to a space that meets their approved accommodation(s).

Theses students will be offered spaces for the Spring 2025 semester that meet the needs of their accommodation prior to students applying for accommodation initially for the Spring 2025 semester. Therefore, we anticipate that we will not be able to meet your housing accommodation with your initial Spring 2025 assignment. Students can anticipate being assigned to a double room with a roommate and placed on a waiting list for a room that meets your needs.

Students are also eligible to participate in the off-campus lottery. Details regarding this process have been sent in an email to your Duke address by the HRL office. We strongly encourage you to participate in the lottery if you would like to find a space off campus that is better able to meet your needs than what is currently available on campus.

We recognize the difficulty that this has resulted in for students. Again, we want to be as transparent as possible regarding expectations and the release of housing assignments are in November 2024. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our office us at housing@duke.edu.

Virtual Office Hours

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS:

SDAO Virtual Office Hours for undergraduates are held weekly at the following times:

Mondays from 9:00 - 10:00 am: CLICK HERE TO JOIN
Tuesdays from 9:00 - 10:00 am: CLICK HERE TO JOIN
Wednesdays from 3:00 - 4:00 pm: CLICK HERE TO JOIN
Thursdays from 9:00 - 10:00 am: CLICK HERE TO JOIN
Thursdays from 3:00 - 4:00 pm: CLICK HERE TO JOIN
Fridays from 3:00 - 4:00 pm: CLICK HERE TO JOIN

Students are admitted one at a time. Please be patient, and an Accessibility Coordinator will admit you to the room in order of arrival at office hours.

If you would like to attend the Virtual Office Hours of your assigned Undergraduate Accessibility Coordinator, their schedule are:

Judith Gatto (Undergraduates with last names A-G):
- Wednesdays from 3:00 - 4:00 pm: CLICK HERE TO JOIN
- Thursdays from 3:00 - 4:00 pm: CLICK HERE TO JOIN

Lindsey Klemens (Undergraduates with last names H-O)
- Thursdays from 9:00 - 10:00 am: CLICK HERE TO JOIN
- Fridays from 3:00 - 4:00 pm: CLICK HERE TO JOIN

Liz Pezzullo (Undergraduates with last names P-Z)
- Mondays from 9:00 - 10:00 am: CLICK HERE TO JOIN
- Tuesdays from 9:00 - 10:00 am: CLICK HERE TO JOIN

Virtual office hours for OTTER.AI

Virtual Office Hours with Otter Coordinator Angela Claiborne are held weekly at the following times:

Mondays from 11:00 - 12:00 pm: CLICK HERE TO JOIN
Wednesdays from 11:00 - 12:00 pm: CLICK HERE TO JOIN
Fridays from 11:00 - 12:00 pm: CLICK HERE TO JOIN

If you are having difficultiy accessing your Otter.ai account, please send an email to SDAO Otter Coordinator, Angela Claiborne.

Virtual Appointments

for UNDERGRADUATES

To schedule a virtual appointment with your assigned Undergraduate Accessibility Coordinator, please use the following links:

UNDERGRADUATE LAST NAMES A-G: Click here to schedule a virtual appointment with Judith Gatto
UNDERGRADUATE LAST NAMES H-O: Click here to schedule a virtual appointment with Lindsey Klemens
UNDERGRADUATE LAST NAMES P-Z: Click here to schedule a virtual appointment with Liz Pezzullo

FOR GRADUATES and PROFESSIONAL STUDENTS

To schedule an appointment with your Graduate and Professional Accessibility Coordinator, please use the following link:

Click here to schedule a virtual appointment with Mary Lou Porch

SDAO Mission

The Student Disability Access Office recognizes disability as an important aspect of diversity that is integral to society and the campus community at Duke. We strive to create an inclusive environment for all students by focusing on accessibility as an esstential feature of our campus. Our mission is to ensure that students with disabilities are provided the tools needed to fully access all areas of student life, both inside and outside of the classroom at Duke.

Core Functions of SDAO

To establish services for equitable access and inclusion on campus through partnership with students with disabilities.
To manage, coordinate, implement and evaluate accommodation and service programs.
To serve as a resource to students, faculty, and staff to ensure effective provision of services at Duke.
To provide educational resources and support to the campus community for the purpose of increasing awareness about creating and sustaining access and inclusion for students with disabilities in all aspects of the university.
To provide resource and referral information to the campus community at Duke and prospective students and their families.

SDAO works with each student individually to establish academic accommodations inlcuding adjustments, auxiliary aids and services for the purpose of eliminating barriers to students' equitable access to campus facilities, programs, and activities. For more information about how to establish services with SDAO, please contact our office.

Email: sdao@duke.edu

Phone: 919-668-1267

Requesting Accommodations

How to request reasonable accommodations for a disability

Requesting Accommodations

SDAO's process for reviewing requests and implementing accommodations

Review and Implementation Process

Steps to renew approved accommodations each semester

Semester Renewal Instructions

Information for Instructors

As Duke University continues its efforts to welcome individuals with disabilities, the number of qualified students with disabilities has continued to increase. In order for the University to ensure timely exploration of necessary accommodations, academic units have identified individuals to serve as Disability Service Liaisons who work in collaboration with the Student Disability Access Office.

Information for Instructors

Rights & Responsibilities

Students with disabilities and the University have specific rights and responsibilities to ensure that students with disabilities are provided with reasonable, necessary, and appropriate accommodations and have equal access to all programs and activities. It is imperative that these rights and responsibilities are fully understood and followed by both parties in order to provide a welcoming and inclusive environment.

Understand Your Rights & Responsibilities

Additional Resources and Information

Duke Academic Resource Center

Accommodations for Standardized Tests

Students who wish to request accommodations on the following standardized tests may find accommodation information on the following websites:

LSAT

Student Disability Access Services

Welcome to Duke University from the staff at the Student Disability Access Office (SDAO). SDAO is the office on campus that has been charged with and is committed to providing educational opportunities for students with disabilities in compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), and the ADA Amendments Act of 2008.