Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD), located in 040 Memorial Hall, arranges academic accommodations and provides support for students with physical, learning and/or psychological disabilities. It replaces the services formerly provided by the PHED program (Program for Higher Education of the Disabled), and by PALS (Program for Academic Learning Skills).

In order to access services, students must first formally disclose their disability by registering with the office, and then must submit appropriate documentation for review. Staff members are available to help students with the registration process, and then will work with students to determine which accommodations are appropriate for their needs at the college level.

In addition to arranging accommodations, a major part of the mission of SSD is to help students develop the skills they will need to be effective self-advocates at Hofstra and beyond. Our programs and services will encourage active involvement from students in managing their own disabilities, while offering coaching and support along the way.

Current and prospective students can access SSD forms.

SSD also administers the Program for Academic Learning Skills (PALS). PALS is a program designed to assist students with learning disabilities and ADD/ADHD, and entry is determined by application and interview at the time of admission into Hofstra. PALS students meet weekly with a learning specialist during their first year of college in order to address their unique learning challenges. There is an additional charge for this program. Students with learning disabilities who are not enrolled in the PALS program will still be served by the SSD office.

Upper class, returning students, or students whose disabilities do not meet the criteria for PALS may chose to take advantage of our Academic Coaching program. Academic Coaching is a short-term program that students registered with SSD can enroll in for a semester or longer as needed. Learning specialists will assist students in developing and implementing an action plan to improve academic performance and meet with the student individually each week to monitor their progress.

Attention Professors, please visit http://www.hofstra.edu/pdf/StudentAffairs/stddis/stddis_Faculty_Syllabi_Statement.pdf for updated syllabi materials. Services for Students with Disabilities wants to help you have current information on your syllabi in the event that students taking your classes might have questions about registering with our office.