Tulane University strives to ensure that our campus experiences and spaces - including buildings, dorms, dining areas, classrooms, athletic facilities, medical facilities, transportation, parking areas, events, course materials, employment, and policies - are accessible and free of barriers.
Our commitment to accessibility extends beyond the physical campus to any programs, activities, and services provided by Tulane. Creating accessible and inclusive environments is a shared responsibility.
The Office for Campus Accessibility is responsible for:
- Workplace accommodations
- Facilities/physical access
- Digital technology access
- Accessible Events and Meetings
- ADA/504 compliance
The Goldman Center for Student Accessibility is responsible for:
- Student accommodations
- Self-advocacy
- Disability-related learning support for undergraduate and graduate students
- Accommodated testing in the Goldman Testing Center
- Communication access
- Assistive technology
Below are some Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Accessibility at Tulane:
What is the difference between a service animal and an emotional support animal?
A Service Animal means any dog or miniature horse that is individually trained to work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with disability. A Service Animal must always be under the control of its handler, and the handler must take effective action to control the animal. Service Animals can accompany their owners to any building on campus. Visitors are not required to gain prior approval before coming to campus with their Service Animal. Staff may ask two questions to an individual with a Service Animal: (1) is the Service Animal required because of a disability, and (2) what work or task has the Service Animal been trained to perform? Staff cannot ask about the person’s disability, require medical documentation, require a special identification card, or training documentation for the animal.
An Emotional Support Animal means any animal that provides emotional support alleviating one or more symptoms or effects of a person’s disability. Typically, Emotional Support Animals can provide companionship, relieve loneliness, and sometimes help with anxiety or certain phobias. Emotional Support Animals do not have special training to perform tasks to assist individuals with disabilities, unlike Service Animals. Employees must go through the workplace accommodations process to request use of an Emotional Support Animal at work. Employees must provide disability-related information about the individual’s disability and the related need of the Emotional Support Animal. Emotional Support Animals can only accompany the employee to the employee's office, and are not permitted in any other buildings on campus.
Students should contact the Goldman Center for Student Accessibility with questions about use of Emotional Support Animals.
Where is accessible parking on campus? Is there golf cart transportation?
Tulane's Interactive Campus Map provides accessibility features - including accessible parking locations, bathrooms, entrances, and elevators in the facilities on the Uptown Campus. Accessibility information is not yet available on the Downtown Interactive Campus Map.
There is no golf cart transportation around campus for employees; however, if an employee suffers a short-term impairment, the employee can contact the Office for Campus Accessibility to request a Medical Need Permit, which allows the employee to park in any zone on campus for up to three months, without a Tulane permit, for $6/day. The employee can also contact Tulane Shuttles and Transportation to request rides around the Uptown Campus.
Do I need to provide medical documentation to receive an accommodation?
Yes, both employees requesting workplace accommodations and students requesting academic or housing accommodations must supply medical documentation with their accommodation request. For employees, medical providers can complete and submit the ADA Medical Inquiry Form to the Office for Campus Accessibility, where the documentation is kept confidentially and separately from the employee's HR file. Employees can also submit any documentation from their provider from the past 12 months that describes their condition/symptoms, duration (if known), and functional limitations caused by that condition. For students, review the Goldman Center for Student Accessibility's Medical Documentation guidelines for more information.
How do I report an accessibility barrier?
For any physical or digital barriers, and for any instances of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation on the basis of disability - including for requesting accommodations - please submit a report to the Office of Equal Opportunity & Resolution Management.
How do I request workplace accommodations?
Submit the online request form, and upload supporting medical documentation. After you submit your request, the Office for Campus Accessibility will contact you to meet and discuss your disability, related limitations, and requested accommodations. To learn more about the accommodation request process, visit Office for Campus Accessibility - Employees.
