Gatekeeping

Gatekeeping in accessibility contexts refers to practices, policies, or attitudes that create unnecessary barriers to disabled people receiving the accommodations or access they need. This can include requiring excessive documentation to prove disability, questioning whether accommodations are "really needed," creating bureaucratic processes that discourage requests, or making access contingent on the approval of individuals who may not understand disability needs. In higher education, gatekeeping often manifests through disability services procedures that place the burden of proof and coordination labor on disabled students, and through institutional cultures where ableist attitudes from faculty or administrators obstruct accommodation implementation.