Housing Accommodations

SLDS identifies disability-related barriers and approves modifications to on-campus living environments. To apply, complete and submit the Housing ONLY Request. 

Already Registered with SLDS? If you are already registered for academic accommodations, do not fill out a new application. Instead, email your completed documentation directly to your assigned Access Specialist to begin the housing review process. 

Housing accommodation requests must be accompanied by both the Student Housing Questions and a Provider Housing Questions. Your application will be reviewed once both documents have been submitted. Please see our Documentation Guidelines page for details. If you are encountering barriers securing documentation, contact our office and request a drop-in consultation.

Within a few business days, you will receive an email with instructions to schedule a Welcome Meeting. Meetings are held by phone or on Zoom by default; in-person meetings are available upon request.

During your Welcome Meeting, you and an Access Specialist will: 

• Discuss barriers in your current or future residential space 
• Identify potential options for housing accommodations 
• Outline next steps and any additional follow-up   

Following your Welcome Meeting, the SLDS Housing Accommodation Committee reviews your narrative and submitted documentation. 

Determinations are not instantaneous. The timeline is influenced by:

• Volume: Peak season (March through August) involves a high volume of requests.
• Complexity: Some requests require the committee to follow up with you for clarification. 

Once a determination is reached, you will receive an email from your Access Specialist with the outcome. 

If accommodations are approved, SLDS sends the determination to Housing and Residence Education (HRE). At this point, HRE takes over the logistics of assigning you to a residence on campus that meets your approved accommodations. All housing assignments are sent from Housing and Residence Education. If you have questions about the timing of receiving your assignment, please contact Housing and Residence Education (housing@osu.edu).

Implementation and Safety 

• Service Animals vs. Emotional Support Animals (ESA): If you use a Service Animal (trained to perform tasks), you do not need SLDS approval. You should contact HRE directly (housing@osu.edu) to notify them of the animal's presence. ESAs must go through the SLDS process described on this page.
• Preferences: HRE manages preferences such as roommate matching and assignment to specific campus locations. While they strive to honor preferences, approved disability-related accommodations will take priority. To request a specific roommate or location, students should use the HRE Housing Portal, not the SLDS application.
• Housing Contracts: Our role is to understand the disability-related barriers a student may experience in the residential environment. Once those barriers are understood, SLDS works with HRE to determine whether approved accommodations can be met in on-campus housing. Most accommodations can be met within the university’s residential portfolio.
• Financial Consideration: Students approved for housing accommodations will pay the room rate they would have initially paid, even if their accommodation requires a different room type.
• Emergency Evacuation: If you require a specialized evacuation plan, please contact Teri Cugliari (Student Life Risk and Emergency Management) at 614-688-4990 or cugliari.6@osu.edu. 

Priority dates for requesting housing accommodations for the 2026-2027 academic year are:

• Returning Students: Submit by the last Friday of January → January 30, 2026 
• New Students: Submit by the first Monday of April → April 6, 2026  

Accommodation requests submitted to SLDS after priority dates will be reviewed. Accommodations supported after the priority dates would be implemented based on available inventory at the time of approval.

• If requesting housing accommodations ONLY: Housing ONLY Request Form
• If requesting housing AND academic accommodations: SLDS Application

All documents can be found on the Documentation Guidelines page of the website. 

• Student Housing Questions: All students should answer the SLDS housing questions to the best of their ability
• Provider Housing Questions: All students should submit a provider housing letter except those only requesting an ESA and those with apparent disabilities
• Emotional Support Animal (ESA) Letter: Required if student is requesting an ESA
• Service Animals: Service animals are trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability. If your animal is a trained service animal, you do not need approval from SLDS for it to reside with you in a residence hall. Instead, you must inform Housing and Residence Education of the animal so they can provide you with your next steps. What is the difference between an ESA and a Service Animal? 

Please note: If you have a readily observable disability (e.g., wheelchair user, white cane user), you do not need to upload documentation. Instead, please contact us after submitting your application to schedule your Welcome Meeting.  If you are encountering barriers securing documentation, contact our office and request a drop-in consultation. 

You will follow the same process, including gathering documentation and submitting the correct application. The Disability Services staff on your campus will review your application and reach out to you with next steps.  

• Review the documentation requirements as described on our Documentation Guidelines page.
• Send the completed/required documentation to your Access Specialist. Your Access Specialist will review these documents and may reach out to schedule a follow-up meeting if more information is needed.
• You do not need to complete a new application.

• Review the HRE website for more information about the live-on requirement: Housing and Residence Education
• Housing Contracts: Our role is to understand the disability-related barriers a student may experience in the residential environment. Once those barriers are understood, SLDS works with HRE to determine whether approved accommodations can be met in on-campus housing. Most accommodations can be met within the University's residential portfolio.

• Yes. If housing accommodations are approved, SLDS will send the approval to HRE, but this does not guarantee that you will be offered a contract. HRE makes the determination about who will recieve on campus housing.  
• SLDS does not provide an accommodation that permits students to live on campus past the two-year live-on policy.
• Students must work with Housing and Residence Education to determine if they will be offered a housing contract beyond their second year.

Submit the Provider Housing Questions document along with your application. SLDS will follow up with you via email.   

If you have a disability and need assistance to develop an evacuation plan that will meet your needs,  please contact Student Life Risk and Emergency Management.  Reach out to Teri Cugliari at 614-688-4990 or cugliari.6@osu.edu.  

No. If you are approved for a housing accommodation, you will not automatically receive an accommodation for priority scheduling. If you would like to request academic accommodations, which may include priority scheduling, please contact your Access Specialist so they can determine your eligibility.  

• Parents are welcome to serve as a support person, but the student is required to participate in the process.  
• SLDS views all materials pertaining to a student’s disability as confidential. Students must complete a Release of Information form and send it to their Access Specialist from their student email account to permit SLDS to speak with a parent.
• Communication regarding housing requests will be sent to the student, so parents are encouraged to speak with their student to receive updates.  

• Be sure you submitted your application and all necessary documents. 
• Check your student email account frequently, as all communications will be sent to that address.
• During high volume times (March-August), responses may be delayed.
• If you have questions about where your request is in the process, please email us at slds@osu.edu.

• When housing accommodations are denied, students will receive an email that includes the reason for the denial and next steps if they would like to grieve the decision.
• Please see our website for information about the Grievance Policy.