On-Campus Housing Consideration Based on Disability

The Fashion Institute of Technology believes that the opportunity to participate in a learning/living environment is an integral part of the college experience for all students. In accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), FIT has established the procedure described below to provide students with documented disabilities access to campus housing accommodations that reasonably meet their needs, as required by law. 

FIT strongly encourages students wishing to request a reasonable accommodation in housing to do so no later than the dates set forth below. Requests are considered on a case-by-case basis and assignments are made on a first come, first served basis, subject to availability.

Dates for Submission of Housing Accommodation Requests

First Year and Transfer Students

  • Fall semester housing due by June 15
  • Spring semester housing due by December 15

Returning Students

  • Fall semester housing due by March 15
  • Spring semester housing due by December 15
  • Summer Session housing due by April 15

Procedures

Choose the link below for the procedure to request disability related housing accommodations based on your needs:

Evaluation of Requests

Requests for housing accommodations are carefully evaluated on a case-by-case basis to provide access in accordance with FIT’s policies and with federal, state, and local law and regulations. Requests for housing accommodations based on disability are reviewed by the FIT-ABLE Office and, in some cases, by the FIT Housing Accommodations Review Team. The Team is led by FIT-ABLE, and is comprised of representatives from Health Services, Counseling, Residence Life, and the Office of the Dean of Students.

FIT-ABLE is responsible for:

  • reviewing students’ housing accommodation requests
  • collaborating with other FIT offices, as needed, to evaluate accommodation requests
  • making a final decision based upon individual student’s needs and the reasonableness and availability of the requested accommodation
  • providing students with an email notification of the decision
  • maintaining disabilityrelated information in the FIT-ABLE Office

Please note that a submitted application does not mean that a student’s request for housing accommodations will be approved. On-campus housing accommodations are subject to a determination about the need for and reasonableness of the requested accommodation and the availability of the requested accommodation. Specific roommate requests will generally not be considered in determining a reasonable accommodation.  

Residence Hall Disability Accommodation Request Procedure

  1. Complete FIT’s Residential Life Housing Application.
  2. Complete the FIT-ABLE Public Accommodation Request Form. 
    • If you are requesting a housing accommodation for a disability related to dietary need, please continue with the Dining Services Request Procedure. All other disability needs please proceed to step #3. 
  3. Complete the documentation requirements. Have your healthcare provider complete the Medical Information For Housing Accommodation Request Form (.pdf)  and return it to the FIT-ABLE office. 
    • Please note that for your healthcare provider to complete this request, you may need to supply them with a completed copy of the Release of Medical Information Form (.pdf). This form authorizes your healthcare professional to provide information to FIT-ABLE to support the request for a housing accommodation, and authorizing FIT-ABLE to seek the information from the identified professionals.
  4. After sufficient documentation is submitted, you will receive an email from FIT-ABLE to schedule a Housing Intake Meeting. That appointment should be scheduled using the FIT-ABLE portal.
  5. Your request will be reviewed and you will be notified via email of the Residence Hall Disability Accommodation decision.

Emotional Support Animal Request Procedure

Before starting the request procedure, please review the  Disability Accommodations for Service and Emotional Support Animals Policy .

  1. Complete FIT’s Residential Life Housing Application.
  2. Complete the FIT-ABLE Public Accommodation Request Form. 
  3. Complete the Emotional Support Animal Request Form (.pdf)  and written statement.
  4. Complete the documentation requirements. Have your healthcare provider complete the Medical Information For Emotional Support Animal Request Form (.pdf) and return it to the FIT-ABLE.
    • Please note that for your healthcare provider to complete this request, you may need to supply them with a completed copy of the Release of Medical Information Form (.pdf). This form authorizes your healthcare professional to provide information to FIT-ABLE to support the request for an Emotional Support Animal, and authorizing FIT-ABLE to seek the information from the identified professionals. 
  5. After sufficient documentation is submitted, you will receive an email from FIT-ABLE to schedule a Housing Intake Meeting. That appointment should be scheduled using the FIT-ABLE portal.
  6. Your request will be reviewed and you will be notified via email of the Residence Hall Disability Accommodation decision.

Housing Accommodation Renewal

Returning students previously approved for a housing accommodation must complete a Housing Accommodation Continuation Request Form (.pdf)prior to each new academic year to be considered for a continuation of their accommodation. Dates for submitting the request to FIT-ABLE are above.   After students reapply, FIT-ABLE will advise students if updated medical information to support the requested accommodation is needed.

On-Campus Dining Accommodations

Students should follow the procedures on the FIT Campus Dish website.  All students can meet with the general nanager to discuss dietary needs and preferences.

Please note that the FIT-ABLE office does not waive meal plans as an accommodation. 

Dining Services Request Procedure Based on Disability

  1. Follow the procedures on the  FIT Campus Dish Website.
  2. Dining Services will submit the completed form to FIT-ABLE if due to disability related dietary needs.
    a. If Dining Services can meet the disability related dietary needs, no further action needed.
    b. If Dining Services cannot meet the disability related dietary needs, the student can submit a Housing Request.

Questions 

Any questions should be directed to FIT-ABLE at (212) 217-4090, [email protected], or in person at the FIT-ABLE Office, Dubinsky Student Center, Room A570.