Accessibility & Language Services

Accessibility

Building access

Our main entrance on Ho Plaza – and our underpass entrance off of Campus Road – are both wheelchair-accessible (see building diagram here). An elevator connects visitors to each floor, and all floors have universal and accessible bathrooms.

The entrance to our Physical Therapy and Massage services on Campus Road is also wheelchair-accessible.

Parking and transportation

Our main building has two accessible-permit parking spaces for patients and clients beneath our building underpass, payable by Parkmobile (see details on our Getting Here page). Our Physical Therapy and Massage office has limited metered parking next to the entrance.

If you need to make arrangements for accessible parking or transportation on campus or in the local area, refer to Cornell's accessible transportation options information

Both TCAT (the Ithaca-area bus service) and the local taxi service (607-277-7777 or 607-588-8888) have wheelchair-accessible vehicles.

Animal policy

Pets and most other animals are not allowed in Cornell Health or in other facilities on campus. (See University Policy 2.8.) 

Trained service dogs and service dogs in training* are the only exceptions, and are welcome in all Cornell Health facilities. 

* A “service dog” is a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a disabled person. A “service dog in training” is an adult dog that is being trained by a person with a disability to be their own service dog. 

Puppies that are being socialized for eventual training as a service dog, and animals that solely provide companionship, comfort, and emotional support are not service animals under the ADA and are not permitted in Cornell Health.

(See "What is a Service Animal? on the Student Disability Services website.)

Additional accessibility resources

Our Student Disability Resources staff facilitate services and accommodations for students with disabilities. Please visit the Student Disability Services website for more information.

Language translation services

In-person appointments

Our telephone-based language translation service has more than 200 languages offered for students who feel more comfortable communicating with their health care provider in their native language. We also have access to American Sign Language interpreters.

If you call to schedule your appointment, you may request the service when you speak with one of our scheduling attendants. If you have scheduled your appointment online, please email us before your appointment to arrange for this service.  

Telehealth appointments

We are now offering a translation service for telehealth (Zoom) appointments, available in Arabic, ASL, Cantonese, Mandarin, Russian; Spanish, and Vietnamese. 

If you call to schedule your appointment, you may request the service when you speak with one of our scheduling attendants. If you have scheduled your appointment online, please email us before your appointment to arrange for this service.  

Sending messages through myCornellHealth 

Secure messages sent through myCornellHealth to Cornell Health providers or departments must be sent in English to be accessible to any health care provider involved in your care. Additionally, myCornellHealth functionality can only accept Latin alphabet characters, and does not recognize characters from other alphabets (Chinese, Arabic, etc.). 

 If you prefer to write a message in your native language, we suggest that you use a free online translation program to translate your message before sending it by secure message through myCornellHealth. You can also call Cornell Health and ask to speak with someone using our translation service.