Requirements for Documentation
This document provides guidelines to assist Disability Support Services staff in assisting students with disabilities in the process documenting the disability. Staff discretion may be used under some circumstances.
Documentation is required to both establish that a student has a disability, and equally importantly, to support the services a student is requesting. This means that the documentation should go beyond stating a condition or disability. It should speak to functional limitations that impact a student on a college campus. Forms sent to professionals diagnosing and/or treating the student, created by Disability Support Services, may be used to facilitate access to this more functional information.
It is the student's responsibility to provide documentation of his/her disability.
DSS staff will assist at the student's request.
Learning disabilities
If evaluated before age 18, the diagnostic evaluation must be within the last 3 years. If evaluated at age 18 or later, students do not need to be retested.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Documentation must be within the last 3 years.
Disabilities that are stable or progressive
For some medical and sensory conditions age of documentation may not relevant. In some cases recent documentation may be needed when additional accommodations are needed for a condition that has gotten worse during the time the student is in school.
Disabilities that are clearly visible and the accommodation requests are obvious needs
When accommodation requests are clearly reasonable based on visible symptoms, documentation may not be needed to begin services. However, in most cases documentation will need to be in place before letters can be printed for the following semester. For example, an arm brace may be needed now but the condition could be successfully treated by the next semester. For visible conditions that may not be stable over time, documentation should be within the last 3 years, but in some cases it should be more recent. Staff discretion based on case-by-case circumstances should be used.
Psychological disabilities
Documentation from a treating professional must be within the last year. In addition to functional limitations in a college setting, it should include a description of present symptoms, fluctuating conditions or symptoms, medication prescribed, effects of medication, and prognosis.
Temporary disabilities
Although we are not required by law to accommodate people with temporary disabilities, it is our practice to facilitate accommodations as needed and within reason. Instead of completing a formal intake (application for services in DSS) staff will speak with professors and/or administrators at the student's request.