New York University

New York, NY

F
Score: 55/100
29,430
Undergraduate students
$62,796
Annual tuition
66 / 100
Diversity Index
Large Campus
Large Campus
private
Private University
Urban Campus
Urban Campus
Northeast Region
Description

By our metrics, NYU is one of the more disability-friendly campuses although there is room for improvement. In particular, the NYU community can be more intentional about including disabled people and improving disability representation at all levels. For example, disability coverage in the Washington Square News, NYU's student newspaper, is consistently lacking. As well, ableism is pervasive in liberal and progressive circles and NYU is no exception. A student at NYU School of Law tells us, "NYU Law is very accommodating to requests for common neurodivergence diagnoses like ADHD, but is minimally and sometimes not at all accommodating to requests that stem from less common neurodivergence diagnoses. If they haven't heard of it, they don't believe it exists."

In 2021, the Washington Square News reported widespread grievances among disabled students at NYU over the administration's dismantling of remote learning options, including recorded lectures, which exposed deeper frustrations with the Moses Center for Student Accessibility. One student told Washington Square News, "The whole experience made me question if the disability accommodations are almost like about reducing liability rather than protecting the students. And just about a minimal compliance with ADA rather than actually seeing the registered students get the support they need."

As New York City is one of the most heavily policed areas in the country, racially marginalized students thinking of living here should be aware of potentially frequent interactions with police and how that might negatively impact their safety and well-being. NYU is also home to the controversial Policing Project program, which has been heavily criticized by community groups and NYU School of Law students for being funded by police agencies and for promoting technological solutions that "sanitize police violence and surveillance."

U.S. News ranks NYU 30th among national universities, an improvement from 35th place last year.

Has the university committed to maintaining its DEI programs?

YES

On March 17, 2025, Washington Square News reported that "NYU has yet to change its website or policies related to DEI amid federal threats." On March 21, 2025, Washington Square News reported that legal counsel at NYU Langone "proposed changes to its website and policy statements and advised that it eliminate 'trigger words,' including 'marginalized' or 'vulnerable,' to evade potential investigation or cuts to federal funding."

According to Meet NYU, members of the NYU community can request a workshop or training on disability called Disability Zone, through the Office of Global Inclusion.

What types of activities exist on campus for disability inclusion, advocacy, and recreation?

Disability Cultural Center

NO

Adaptive sports programs

NO

Student organizations

YES

Other

YES

The Disability Student Union at NYU "works with the University to improve accessibility, promote disability awareness on campus, and discuss ways to increase inclusion in society as a whole. The student group also hosts events and serves as a safe space for students to explore ideas related to disability and share common experiences," according to Meet NYU.

NYU Connections is "a free and optional program for autistic NYU students dedicated to promoting student success by promoting a culture of acceptance and belonging."

The number of disability-centered articles published in the campus newspaper last year

2

Does the university use stigmatizing language about mental illness or disability on its website?

NO

NYU's Student Health Center (SHC) issues pretty solid guidance on helping students in distress, without resorting to fearmongering or ableist language.

Does the university provide an alternative-to-police mental health crisis response team?

NO

Does the university offer a Disability Studies major?

Disability Studies major

NO

Disability Studies minor or certificate

YES

One or more classes in Disability Studies

YES

NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development offers a minor in Disability Studies. The core courses are MCC-UE 1026, Disability, Technology and Media; CAM-UY 2204, Disability Studies; and ANTH-UA 209, Disability Worlds: Anthropological Perspectives.

There are many other courses on disability offered every semester, such as CAM-UY 2304, Disability & Theatre; CEH-GA 1016, Special Topics: Disability and the Biopolitics of Care; CCOL-UH 1040, Disability; EAP-SHU 100, English for Academic Purposes I: Exploring Disability; and OT-UE 1403, Disability Justice and Radical Inclusion.

The NYU Center for Disability Studies (CDS) "promotes disability scholarship, artistry, and activism through: grant-funded interdisciplinary research, a public event series, local and international community collaborations, and facilitation of an undergraduate Disability Studies Minor."

Recent News
Published on:
2023-10-05

Kristin Carmody, the plaintiff, claimed she was fired “for her increased objections” to an uptick in gender discrimination at the university and “false accusations of criminal fraud” for mishandling a patient’s medical records, according to the October 2021 complaint. Carmody began her term as vice chair for academic affairs and education innovation in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Grossman in 2017. Her contract with the institution was terminated in 2020. 

In March 2020, a primarily female and minority-led group of residents and faculty at NYU raised concerns about gender disparities — including allegations of unequal treatment of residents and patients — at the university. After their concerns were made public in the media, NYU allegedly forbade its employees from speaking to media outlets without permission, and said they would be “subject to disciplinary action, including termination,” if they did not comply.

...

The following month, Robert Grossman, emergency department chair Robert Femia and other university administrators named in the suit allegedly demanded that residents remove their names from the letter because it “doesn’t look good” for NYU, according to the complaint. Carmody also claimed that Femia requested she provide the university with the names of the residents who signed the letter — a request she called “completely inappropriate.” She argued that her refusal to submit to their demands led to her termination.

Source:Link

Recent News
Published on:
2023-03-01

A former physician’s assistant at NYU Langone Health is suing the school for disability discrimination after the hospital allegedly fired her for requesting accommodations. Sophiana Cilus, who underwent hip reconstruction surgery in July 2021, was terminated after she requested an extension of an accommodation that was previously granted that shortened her maximum shift length from 12 to 10 hours.

Source:Link

DISABILITY GPA
Copyright © 2025 Disability GPA