Policies
General Documentation Guidelines
The Abilities Office requires students to submit documentation in support of their specific accommodation requests.
Documentation serves two primary purposes:
These guidelines are not meant to be a replacement for direct communication with the Assistant Director of the Abilities Office. Determining reasonable accommodations is an iterative process that considers the individual nature of a request. Please contact the Abilities Office directly if you have documentation that does not meet the requirements outlined here.
Documentation Criteria
Understanding the exact documentation, assessments and healthcare providers required to demonstrate your need for accommodations can be a difficult task. The criteria outlined below are the general requirements for ALL disability-specific documentation presented to the Abilities Office.
Provider—the healthcare provider completing your documentation must:
Diagnosis—the diagnosis must:
Current functional impact of the condition(s)—the provision of accommodations is based upon an assessment of the current impact of the student’s disability. Documentation:
Medication—list current medications the client is taking
Treatment—describe current treatment plan, last date of contact and next appointment/review
Assistive Devices—list all assistive devices, augmented devices, controls, adaptations, etc. that are currently in use
Prognosis—estimated progression or stability of diagnosis over time
Recommended accommodations—the provider should list all suggested academic accommodations and services and connect their relevance to the diagnosis
Acceptable Forms of Documentation
Unacceptable Forms of Documentation
(call the Abilities Office to discuss options)
Returning Students
Students of the Abilities Office who are returning for subsequent terms/semesters, will receive a review of their student file. Disability documentation will be reviewed for the following criteria:
Returning students will be promptly informed of any deficiencies in documentation. Deficiencies must be resolved by the term that occurs after notification is received.
Conditions Subject to Change—for conditions that are subject to change over time (including health related disorders, learning disabilities and psychological disabilities, the student may be asked to provide updated documentation for the student’s file on an on-going basis in order for accommodations to be continued.
Please note:
*Students described as experiencing test anxiety or difficulties with organization, memory, or concentration in specific situations may not have an impairment that rises to the level of a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act. However, students experiencing academic difficulties are welcome to visit The Abilities Office for referrals to campus or outside resources, or to discuss their situation to see if accommodations might be appropriate.
*Please see specific guidelines for:
ADD/ADHD documentation
Communication/Language documentation
Learning/Intellectual documentation
Mental Disorders documentation
Neurological/Brain Injury documentation
Physical/Systemic/Mobility related documentation
Sensory (Vision. Hearing) documentation