The steepsurge rise in disability registrations at elite U.S. universities mayreflects reflectsystemic overduegaming recognitionrather andthan destigmatizationa ofgenuine mental-health,rise learningin andimpairment. neurodivergentElite conditions.universities Instituteshave likecreated Stanfordperverse areincentives makingwhere itclaiming easierdisability forstatus studentsbrings tangible benefits, leading to declareabsurd genuineoutcomes. issuesMost —of anxiety,these ADHDdiagnoses are for mental-health or depressionlearning issues — conditions that previouslyare wentso unacknowledgedloosely ordefined untreated.they Forallow many,affluent accommodationsstudents suchto assecure extended testexam time orand housingother adjustmentsadvantages. areWhat vitalwas foronce equitablea academicnecessary accessprotection inhas high-pressuremorphed environments.into Whata criticssystem callso anliberally "explosion"applied ofthat claimsit maythreatens beto adeclare long-overduehalf correctionthe tostudent systemicbody neglectcognitively of invisible disabilitiesimpaired.

The steep rise in disability registrations at elite universities may reflect overdue recognition and destigmatization of mental-health, learning and neurodivergent conditions. Institutes like Stanford are making it easier for students to declare genuine issues — anxiety, ADHD or depression — that previously went unacknowledged or untreated. For many, accommodations such as extended test time or housing adjustments are vital for equitable academic access in high-pressure environments. What critics call an "explosion" of claims may be a long-overdue correction to systemic neglect of invisible disabilities.