Accessibility is a shared value and a shared responsibility at Penn. The Weingarten Center partners with departments across campus to coordinate and improve the accessibility of buildings and grounds, transportation, communication, housing and digital infrastructure.
Accessible Housing
Disability Services and Residential Services work collaboratively to review disability-related housing accommodation requests and identify appropriate and available housing. Residential Services handles the room selection process and communicates room assignments to students.
How to Request Accessible Housing
Students seeking a disability-related housing accommodation should begin by submitting an Accessibility Request through the MyWeingartenCenter portal.
- Students are encouraged to submit their request and meet with a disability specialist even if medical documentation is not yet available. Medical documentation can be submitted before or after the initial appointment. It is advisable to keep the process moving forward. When meeting with students, disability specialists can provide guidance about relevant documentation requirements.
- Housing accommodations are based on access needs, not personal preference. Students are not guaranteed a specific building or location.
Guidance for Incoming First-Year and Transfer Students
Getting Started
- First-year students receive their PennKey username and password in early May, which allows access to the MyWeingartenCenter portal.
- Students may submit accessibility requests once they have access to the MyWeingartenCenter portal. After submitting the request, the student will be assigned to a disability specialist and receive an email from them within one to three business days. Students should then schedule a “Disability Services – Initial Appointment” with their assigned specialist through the MyWeingartenCenter portal.
- Before meeting the disability specialist, the student should review the Residential Services website, especially information about first-year housing options, including available buildings and room types.
Priority Deadlines for Medical Housing Consideration
First-Year Students:
Medical housing requests are due by May 31, 2026.
Transfer Students:
Medical housing requests are due by June 23, 2026.
Returning Students:
The deadline for returning students to submit a request for housing accommodations for the 2026-27 school year was in January.
Requests that are received after a deadline will be reviewed, but a housing assignment cannot be guaranteed after the deadline.
Guidance for Undergraduate Students Seeking Medical Housing Accommodations
Students may request accommodations at any point during their time at Penn. However, Disability Services cannot consider a disability-related housing accommodation unless the student has an active housing application. If you are unsure about your housing status, contact Housing Occupancy at living@upenn.
Emotional Support Animals (ESAs)
Students requesting approval for an emotional support animal must initiate the process through the MyWeingartenCenter portal.
- Students should review Residential Services’ medical accommodation guidance and the University’s policies on animals in residence before submitting a request.
Personal Care Attendants
Students who require the services of a personal care attendant should coordinate directly with Disability Services.
- The Student Personal Care Attendant Guidelines outline the procedures and expectations for having a personal care attendant in a College House.
Dining Accommodations
Disability Services works closely with Penn Dining to meet the needs of students with dietary restrictions due to a medical condition. Students seeking accommodations for their dining plan should register with Disability Services by completing the Accessibility Request through the MyWeingartenCenter student portal.
Navigating Campus
Guidance Regarding Use of Mobility Device
The University of Pennsylvania supports students who require the use of a medically necessary mobility device due to a disability. To ensure that the mobility device can be charged in a campus building, students need to observe the following guidelines:
- The first step is to submit the accessibility request to Disability Services through the MyWeingartenCenter portal. The student’s assigned disability specialist assesses the student’s mobility device request in accordance with their medical documentation. After the specialist determines the need for the mobility device, the student confers with the University’s Fire and Emergency Services in the Department of Public Safety for an evaluation of the student’s device.
- Pursuant to FDA guidelines, only medical-grade devices will be approved for storage and/or charging within any Penn building. Approval must be given for the specific make/model of the device that the student intends to store/charge inside a Penn building.
- If a student does not already own a medical-grade mobility device, they should provide Disability Services with the proposed make/model for approval prior to purchase of the device.
Penn Accessible Transit (PAT)
Penn Accessible Transit is a ride service for individuals with disabilities provided by Penn’s Transportation department. Students seeking accessible transit services should register with Disability Services by completing the Accessibility Request through the MyWeingartenCenter student portal.
Emergency Evacuation
Disability Services works closely with the Division of Public Safety to support students with disabilities in planning for an emergency evacuation from campus buildings.
Parking
Penn’s Transportation and Parking department manages the accessible parking options.
Penn Building Access
The Facilities and Real Estate Services department maintains information on the accessibility of Penn buildings. Their site includes maps and documents with accessibility information on every building on campus.
Accessibility Mapping Project
The Accessibility Mapping Project is a digital interface for mapping physical and social barriers on college campuses.
Additional Resources for Accessibility
Web Accessibility
The University of Pennsylvania is committed to making its technology accessible to all people. Web Accessibility at Penn is a resource on all topics related to web accessibility at Penn.
Accessible Event Planning Guide
The Accessible Event Planning Guide offers event planners instructions, resources, and support to ensure that their events create a more inclusive environment for individuals with disabilities. Additionally, the Weingarten Center and The Office of Equal Opportunity Programs have developed Guidance for Providing ASL and/or CART Services for University Events.