Updates for CAE and Housing Accommodation Requests outlined below are for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Housing Accommodation Requests
The University of California, Los Angeles ("UCLA" or the "University") recognizes the importance of providing reasonable accommodations and modifications in its housing policies, practices, and services where necessary, for individuals with disabilities to be afforded equal access to the use and enjoyment of University-owned Housing.
UCLA uses a two-stage process to provide reasonable accommodations or modifications in housing for students with disabilities. The first stage of the process is the evaluation of requests for a reasonable accommodation or modification, which are performed by the Center for Accessible Education (“CAE”). If CAE determines a requested accommodation is necessary and is not unreasonable, it will send a recommendation to Housing Services. At the second stage of the process Housing Services provides the student with a housing assignment based on the individual’s request, CAE’s recommendation, and the availability of housing stock. Note that to be eligible for a housing accommodation or modification, a student must have met the independent deadlines for applying for housing and registering to attend the University. (See Timeline and Deadlines below). CAE and Housing Services advise students to submit their completed applications for housing accommodation or modification and supporting documentation as early as possible.
Timeline and Deadlines
Incoming freshmen students must submit their housing application and Statement of Intent to Register by May 15, 2024. If those deadlines are met, students are guaranteed a housing offer. UCLA Housing will send these students additional information about their housing offers 3-4 weeks after this deadline.
If you are a student with a disability as defined by Federal and State Housing Laws and are seeking a reasonable housing accommodation, you will need to submit a request via the CAE: Requests for the upcoming academic year May 15, 2024. If a request for accommodation or modification is made after this date, housing options may be limited due to occupancy and there may not be space available to meet the student’s request.
Stage 1: Center for Accessible Education's Evaluation
The UCLA Center for Accessible Education (CAE) is responsible for the overall administration of UCLA’s commitment to ensuring access and participation for all students with qualifying disabilities. CAE’s responsibility includes evaluation of requests for accommodation in multiple areas including housing, classrooms, and health care.
Within the CAE, the Housing Accommodations Board is responsible for evaluating requests for a reasonable accommodation and/or modification in University-owned housing. The CAE's Housing Accommodations Board evaluates housing accommodation requests, on a case-by-case basis, in accordance with California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA); The Federal Fair Housing Act (FHA), as amended by the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act (1990), and the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA), and other laws or regulations as appropriate.
For a step-by-step guide to requesting a housing accommodation from CAE, please go to https://cae.ucla.edu/students/housing.
In evaluating the request, the Housing Accommodation Board will consult with UCLA Residential Life, the CAE, and other need-to-know individuals, as necessary, to determine whether the requested accommodation is necessary and reasonable. Submission of a request does not guarantee an accommodation, however the University attempts to honor all reasonable requests for disability-related assistance.
Stage 2: Housing Service's Assignment of Housing
As noted above, to be eligible for a housing accommodation or modification, a student must have met the required deadlines to apply for housing and to register to attend the University. (See Deadlines above.) Assuming the student has done so, when the CAE notifies Housing Services of an approved accommodation recommendation, Housing Services works to provide an offer of appropriate housing (or update a pending offer or existing assignment) for that student based on CAE’s recommendation and the housing options available at the time. The University cannot guarantee that the student’s initial offer will be for requested accommodations, but will work with the CAE to update offers based on recommendations. Students should submit CAE appeals by the housing application deadline to assist in a timely review.
Please note that the University is currently unable to guarantee single rooms based solely on medical diagnosis of ADD/ADHD or a learning disability.
FAQs
How are housing rates determined for assignments based on a housing accommodation recommendation from CAE?
When the CAE notifies Housing Services of an approved accommodation recommendation, Housing Services will look at availability to assign to a unit based on CAE’s accommodation recommendation as well as our remaining availability. When an accommodation is made respective to the maximum occupancy available within the unit, in an effort to provide fair and predictable rates, in general, the housing rate applied will be the least expensive rate within the building you are assigned.
For example, if you were to receive a housing accommodation to be assigned “a single occupancy room with a non-communal bathroom,” that would most likely be accommodated in one of our buildings with single pods. These pods are 10-person, single room suites:, with two shared bathrooms for the suite, plus a small shared common space. However, because this unit is being provided as an accommodation, you would not be charged the single occupancy room rate. In this example, the adjusted rate would be equivalent to our Plaza Triple Occupancy with Shared Bath rate. So although you would be in a single room, you would be charged a lower triple room rate for that building.
As another example, if you were to receive a housing accommodation to be assigned “a double occupancy room with a private bathroom,” that would most likely be accommodated within De Neve Plaza or in one of our Sunset Village buildings in which rooms each have their own dedicated bathroom (as opposed to some Plaza buildings in which bathrooms are shared between two rooms). In this example, the adjusted rate would be equivalent to our Plaza Triple Occupancy with Private Bath rate.
What if I am offered a housing assignment in May, but don’t get my CAE recommendation for a housing accommodation until August?
You should still accept your offer by the deadline, because this secures you a spot in University housing. If you notify Housing Services that you have submitted a request for a housing accommodation to CAE, that will assist in streamlining the process. When CAE issues a recommendation, Housing Services will finalize your offer per the approved accommodation.
What happens to the $500 initial payment if my assignment is later changed?
The initial payment contributes to the total contract cost, so even if your assignment is changed, the initial payment will be applied to your new contract cost.
