Program for the
Higher Education of the Disabled
(PHED)

Hofstra University has had a long-standing commitment to the education of students with disabilities. The Program for the Higher Education of the Disabled (PHED) was established in 1963 to provide equal opportunities for a college education to academically qualified students with physical disabilities, and in 1972, the Program for Academic Learning Skills (PALS) began offering comprehensive support services to students with learning disabilities. (Students interested in PALS support should contact the Director in the School for University Studies at 516-463-5761).

The focus of PHED is not only to provide the support services which allow students to compete on an equal level with their classmates, but also to foster the growth of independent living skills necessary for survival at Hofstra University and beyond. PHED provides appropriate support services to eligible students, including registration assistance, reader/writer/attendant care referrals, interpreters, counseling, equipment loan, books on tape, test administration, and liaison with sponsoring agencies.

Students with disabilities are required to meet the same admissions criteria as all applicants to the University. We are, however, sensitive to individual backgrounds and needs, and may request supplementary information to enhance the applicant's record. One of the best ways for students to demonstrate individual strengths is to visit the campus. An interview with an admissions officer presents an opportunity to discuss the student's academic credentials, and in a meeting with a member of the PHED staff, the student can make sure the support services available at Hofstra will be appropriate and sufficient.

The student is encouraged to visit campus on several additional occasions, each time assessing the environment a bit more closely. For example, after a positive admissions decision is made, it is often useful to return to Hofstra on the Ambassador Program, where an incoming student has the opportunity to spend the night in the accessible residence hall and then spend the next day attending classes, speaking with other students, both disabled and nondisabled, and getting a grasp on what individual needs he/she will have upon enrollment. The PHED Office is happy to help with these arrangements and other matters of concern. With several interactions of this nature, the student and the PHED staff are well acquainted by the time the acquainted by the semester begins, and PHED can begin its personalized program of support and learning.