Columbia University Health Services

The Family Educational Rights Privacy Act (FERPA) regulates disclosure of disability documentation and records maintained by the Office of Disability Services (ODS). Under this Federal act, prior written consent by the student is required before ODS may release disability documentation or records.

FERPA provides numerous exceptions to the general requirement to seek student consent prioir ro releasing personally identifiable information from educational records. One of the exceptions authorizes ODS to release information to any school official who has a "legitimate educational interest." Another exception is for the health and safety emergencies.

Professors or other school officials, such as tutors, may request information about the impact of a student’s disability on his or her ability to learn. ODS will only share information with other school officials when appropriate and will carefully balance a student’s request for confidentiality and the request for additional, relevant information about the student. ODS seeks to preserve the student’s wish to keep their disability information and status confidential. ODS staff is extremely sensitive to this issue.

Under FERPA, students are also allowed to inspect and review their files maintained by ODS. Students have the right to challenge any information contained in the files that is incorrect, misleading, or not accurate and request an amendment to this misinformation.