Requesting Housing/Dietary Accommodations
Disability Housing/Dietary Accommodation Policy
Disability Support Services (DSS) is committed to ensuring that disabled students have the reasonable accommodations they need to live, learn, and lead at Lehigh University. To that end, DSS works closely with Housing Services and Residence Life to respond to the individual needs of disabled students in the residential setting.
Due to high demand for on-campus housing, it is vital that students requesting accommodations comply with all housing application deadlines. While applications for disability housing/dietary accommodations will be accepted and considered after the deadline, approved accommodations for requests submitted after a deadline will be subject to housing availability. The earliest possible communication with DSS and submission of application and documentation is encouraged.
Any student requesting a new disability housing/dietary accommodation must submit a completed request in accordance with posted deadlines for the housing application. Unless an accommodation is deemed temporary, all approved housing accommodations will carry over from one year to the next. There is no need for a student with approved housing accommodations to apply or renew a request for previously-approved housing accommodations. Only in cases when a student wishes to request a new or different housing/dietary accommodation will they be required to request a supplemental accommodation.
Housing assignments are made by Housing Services using approved accommodations and, when possible, student housing preferences. DSS determines eligibility for accommodations, while Housing Services determines placement.
Approved housing accommodations for disabled students are coordinated annually through the applicable housing selection process and, once approved, remain in effect throughout the student’s time at Lehigh unless there is a significant change in circumstances or disability-related need.
Students who receive approved housing accommodations during their first or second year at Lehigh will continue to be guaranteed on-campus housing throughout their undergraduate enrollment. Because on-campus housing is otherwise not guaranteed for rising third- and fourth-year students or graduate students, students in those groups who are requesting a new housing accommodation must provide documentation from a treating clinician explaining why living on campus is medically necessary due to disability-related needs.
Students without approved housing accommodations who wish to apply for the following academic year should submit requests according to the housing process specific to their year. Students with approved housing accommodations who wish to apply for new, additional accommodations should submit requests according to the housing process specific to their year. More information on the housing process can be found at Housing Services.
Students currently in housing who wish to submit a post-deadline request for the current semester/academic year should submit requests as soon as the need for an accommodation becomes apparent. Approved post-deadline housing accommodations will be provided on a space available basis. Once a housing accommodation is determined, a room change will be offered if a space meeting the accommodation becomes available.
Requests for No Carpeting and/or Air Conditioning
Requests for no carpeting or for air conditioning in a room that are not connected to another disability-related housing accommodation are handled directly by Housing Services. These requests are not reviewed through DSS. Students who have a medical condition that requires air conditioning in their room as part of their prescribed treatment should refer to the Air Conditioner Policy in Residence Halls for more information and a link to the Air Conditioning Medical Form to be completed by the their primary care physician, allergist, pulmonologist, or ear, nose and throat specialist. Students should submit this form to Housing Services prior to assignment so that they can be accommodated in an air-conditioned space. Forms submitted after assignment will result in relocation to an air-conditioned space based on availability. If no space exists, the student will have to remain in their current space and be placed on a priority room change waiting list for relocation to an air-conditioned space should one become available.
Requests for central air conditioning are different.
Students requesting central or full-building air conditioning as a disability-related accommodation must submit a request through DSS and provide documentation that meets DSS guidelines. Post-deadline requests will result in relocation on a space-available basis. If no space exists, the student will have to remain in their current space and be placed on a priority room change waiting list for relocation should an appropriate space become available.
Requesting Housing or Dietary Accommodations
Step 1: Submit a Request
Students who are NOT currently registered with DSS or receiving accommodations should register with Disability Support Services by completing the Disability Support Services Registration form. Please note that this form allows students to upload documentation with their initial registration.Students who are new to DSS must complete the registration process and indicate their housing and/or dietary needs. Students who are already registered should submit a supplemental request if they are seeking a new or additional accommodation.
Students who are CURRENTLY registered with DSS should submit a Supplemental Request through their Accommodate dashboard in the DSS "Student Portal" if they would like to request a new, different, or additional disability-related housing or dietary accommodation.
If they have questions, students should schedule a consultation with Disability Support Services prior to the Disability Housing Accommodation Request deadline to discuss their housing accommodation requests. Please contact Disability Support Services at 610-758-4152 to schedule a consultation.
Dietary accommodations require an additional step.
Students requesting accommodations related to dining, including meal plan modifications or kitchen access, must meet with the Lehigh University dietitian. This meeting is part of the interactive process and should be completed before the housing deadline. Consultations with the University dietitian can be scheduled online.
Step 2: Submit Documentation
Students must provide current documentation from a qualified, licensed professional. Documentation must be recent and should include a diagnosis, reflect the student’s present level of functioning, and articulate the expected impact of the condition on student in the residential setting. Documentation must establish a clear connection between the disability and the request.
A brief overview of documentation expectations is included below. Students and providers should review the Housing & Dietary Documentation Guidelines page for detailed documentation requirements prior to submitting a request.
Step 3: DSS Review and Interactive Process
After documentation is submitted, DSS will review the materials. In some cases, DSS may request additional information. In others, students may be invited to participate in a meeting to discuss their needs. When documentation clearly supports the request, students may be approved for an accommodation through an expedited process that does not require a meeting.
Students should monitor their Lehigh email for communication regarding next steps.
Documentation Overview
Documentation should focus on how the student’s condition affects them in a residential or dining setting.
At a minimum, documentation should include:
- The student’s diagnosis and current disability-related functional limitations
- The barriers those limitations create within the housing or dining environment
- The severity, frequency, duration, and known triggers of symptoms, particularly when they impact shared living or dining settings
- A clear rationale explaining why the requested accommodation is necessary for equal access
- An explanation of how the requested accommodation will mitigate disability-related barriers (for example, how the accommodation would reduce or alleviate the impact of symptoms, improve the student’s ability to access and use university housing or dining, or address specific environmental triggers or functional limitations)
Documentation should reflect the student’s current needs. While past history may provide context, decisions are based on present impact.
Please note that incomplete or insufficient documentation may delay the review and determination process and could result in the request being reviewed under post-deadline procedures.
Allergy-Related Housing and Dietary Documentation
Students requesting accommodations related to allergies must provide detailed documentation that explains both the allergy and its impact in a residential or dining setting.
Documentation should clearly describe the student’s experience, including:
- The specific allergens involved
- The type of exposure that triggers a reaction (such as ingestion, contact, or airborne exposure)
- The nature and severity of reactions
- Whether cross-contamination presents a significant risk
It should also explain how the allergy is managed in daily life. This includes precautions the student must take in shared or public environments, including dining spaces, and any known environmental triggers within housing.
Providing this level of detail helps DSS determine whether housing or dining modifications are necessary to ensure safe and equal access.
Key Considerations
All housing and dietary accommodation requests are reviewed individually. Decisions are based on whether the accommodation is necessary to provide equal access within the residential environment.
Requests based solely on preference—such as specific buildings, room locations, or roommates—are generally not considered disability-related accommodations unless clearly supported by documentation.
DSS may request additional documentation if the initial submission does not fully explain the need for the accommodation.
Questions or Support
Students are encouraged to contact DSS before housing deadlines if they have questions about the process or documentation.To schedule a consultation, please call Disability Support Services at 610-758-4152.
Timing and Deadlines
These deadlines are for students without current approved housing accommodations who wish to request accommodations for the future or for students with approved housing accommodations who wish to request additional or different accommodation(s) for the upcoming year. Unless an accommodation is deemed temporary, all approved housing accommodations will carry over from one year to the next.
Students with previously approved housing accommodations do not need to reapply each year. However, a new request is required if a student is seeking a change or an additional accommodation.
Students who develop a need after the deadline should submit a request as soon as possible. Approved accommodations will be implemented based on a space available basis.
Academic Year 2026-2027 Housing Accommodation Request Deadlines
Gryphons: Friday, January 30, 2026
Current students: Friday, January 30, 2026
Graduate Students: Friday, May 15, 2026
Incoming 1st-Year & Transfer Students: Monday, June 1, 2026
Summer: Graduate Housing students: Friday, February 13, 2026; Session I students: Friday, April 24, 2026; Session II students: Friday, May 29, 2026.