Story perspectives

40% of Students Claim Disabilities, Experts Warn of Misuse

2/10/2026

Summary

Story summary

Reports show many U.S. college students claim disabilities to obtain accommodations; Stanford University reports up to 40% of undergraduates registered as disabled, with similar trends at Brown University and Harvard University.
Education experts warn the trend may reflect misuse, noting Stanford University data from fall 2025 that only 12.5% of undergraduates received accommodations.
Experts warn the trend signals a culture of entitlement that may undermine support for real disabilities.

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Story summary

Reports show many U.S. college students claim disabilities to obtain accommodations; Stanford University reports up to 40% of undergraduates registered as disabled, with similar trends at Brown University and Harvard University.
Education experts warn the trend may reflect misuse, noting Stanford University data from fall 2025 that only 12.5% of undergraduates received accommodations.
Experts warn the trend signals a culture of entitlement that may undermine support for real disabilities.