Documentation Guidelines
Disability Resource Center (DRC)
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
The purpose of documentation is both to establish that a student has a disability, and equally importantly, to guide the student and staff member in determining what environmental changes and/or accommodations would be reasonable. This means that the documentation should go beyond stating a condition or disability. It should speak to the types of environments or situations that may present barriers to the student in a college setting.
- Documentation provided must be on the letterhead of the professional conducting the assessment.
- Documentation must be provided by a qualified professional in the relevant field. Documentation from family members, even if they are qualified professionals, will not be accepted.
- It is the student’s responsibility to provide documentation of his/her disability. DRC staff will assist at the student’s request by sending forms to the professional who is providing documentation. Students who are unsure if their documentation is sufficient should schedule an application interview and discuss this with the Access Consultant or other DRC staff.
- Documentation should reflect the student’s current situation. Typically documentation should be no more than 3 years old. However, on a case-by-case basis, DRC staff will determine whether documentation that dates further back is acceptable. For example, if a disability does not change over time, then older documentation may be accepted. On the other hand, more recent documentation may be necessary if changes in a disability have resulted in a request for additional accommodations.
- When accommodation requests are clearly consistent with a visible disability, documentation may not be needed.
Temporary disabilities
Although we are not required by law to accommodate students with temporary disabilities, it is our practice to facilitate accommodations as needed and within reason. Instead of completing an application interview, staff will speak with professors and/or administrators at the student’s request.