New York University rolled out device-free, in‑person spaces aimed at reducing loneliness and boosting face‑to‑face interaction as campuses confront changing student needs. NYU's IRL initiative complements a larger sector trend: universities are reporting a marked increase in students with disabilities, including ADHD and anxiety, which is reshaping accommodations, classroom design and support services. Administrators must balance universal-design investments with targeted clinical and academic accommodations. The rise in disability diagnoses has implications for financial aid, classroom staffing and faculty training; institutions are retooling accessibility offices and revising syllabi to meet legal and pedagogical obligations.