Our Mission
The office of Access and Neurodiverse Student Success partners with disabled and neurodivergent students to cultivate self-advocacy skills, facilitate academic accommodations, and develop learning strategies that empower students to achieve their full potential. Grounded in compliance with legal requirements and driven by a commitment to student growth, we work to advance disability rights consciousness while supporting students in their academic journey. Through individualized services, skill-building opportunities, and campus-wide collaboration, we ensure students have the resources, knowledge, and confidence to succeed at RPI and beyond.
Our Vision
We envision RPI as a campus where disability and neurodivergence are recognized as valued forms of human diversity—where "We choose you and you belong" is lived daily through accessible design, inclusive practices, and a vibrant community that celebrates physical and neurological differences. We aspire to transform our campus culture from one where students must continually request access to one where universal design principles proactively remove barriers. In this future, disabled and neurodivergent students are not only accommodated but celebrated as essential contributors to RPI's learning community, and all students graduate with the self-advocacy skills to navigate, challenge, and transform systems throughout their lives.
Register with Access and Neurodiverse Student Support
Disability Description
Provide the diagnosis, brief explanation of the condition, and the methods used to evaluate it.
Functional Impact
Describe how the disability affects daily functioning or academic tasks (e.g., learning, concentrating, mobility, communication).
Prognosis
State whether the condition is stable, episodic, or expected to change over time.
Effect on Major Life Activities
Explain how the disability limits at least one major life activity related to school participation.
Learning Skills support empowers neurodiverse students to develop strategies that promote academic confidence, organization, and effective learning. Through individualized guidance, students registered with the Office of Access and Neurodiverse Student Success can build skills tailored to their strengths and goals. Our approach fosters independence, self‑advocacy, and sustainable habits that help students thrive both in and out of the classroom.
If you would like to schedule a meeting with our Learning Skills Specialist, please email us at dss@rpi.edu.
If you would like to file a disability-related complaint, please complete the complaint form.
The Disabled Student Advisory Committee is a group of disabled students from across RPI, including undergrad, masters, and PhD students. This committee works with the office of Access and Neurodiverse Student Success to help create and work through Accessibility efforts across campus.
Project Kaleidoscope
A Supportive Transition-to-College Experience for Neurodiverse Students
Project Kaleidoscope is a unique 10-day residential transition program designed to support enrolling neurodiverse students as they prepare for college life at RPI. Through mentoring, academic support, enrichment seminars, and community-building experiences, participants will develop the academic, social, and life skills needed to thrive in the uniquely demanding RPI environment.
Our program is designed with accessibility, flexibility, and student engagement in mind. We strive to provide multiple ways for students to participate and connect throughout each session. All sessions are mandatory, with activities facilitated using the Challenge by Choice model, encouraging students to engage at their own comfort level while fostering growth and confidence.
Participants may experience activities such as:
- Low ropes course challenges
- Campus and Downtown Troy tours
- Teamwork and teambuilding activities
- Guided use of the CDTA bus system
- Academic and life skills workshops
- Peer mentoring and community-building experiences
Move-In
August 9, 2026
Program
August 10–19, 2026
Overnight Trip
August 20–21, 2026
All participants will attend the Camp Fowler NRB Overnight Trip at no additional cost.
Participants will conclude the program with an overnight experience at Camp Fowler in the Southern Adirondacks. Students will stay in rustic cabins alongside fellow classmates while participating in outdoor adventure-based activities designed to build connection, confidence, and community.
Activities may include:
- Guided hiking
- Boating
- Campfires
- Night sky tours
- Free swim on Sacandaga Lake
Apply to join Project Kaleidoscope and begin your RPI journey with confidence. Participants will build community, strengthen independence, and connect with campus resources before the academic year begins.
Student Interviews
June 22–26, 2026
Participant Notification
June 30, 2026
Acceptance Acknowledgment Due
July 6, 2026
Contact
Phone: 518-276-2231
Email: dss@rpi.edu
Staff
Andrea Hoyt, Director
Jodi Ross, Accessibility Specialist
Arielle Roberts, Learning Skills Specialist
