Documentation Guidance

Students requesting accommodations and/or services under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and/or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 must provide documentation of the existence of a disability and evidence of the need for disability-related accommodations.

Disability is defined as a permanent, longstanding significant condition that substantially or significantly limits one or more of the major life functions, including but not limited to:

• Seeing
• Hearing
• Walking
• Breathing
• Learning
• Working
• Concentrating

Students who are eligible for accommodations will present documents to demonstrate evidence of a current condition that interferes with one or more major life functions as defined by ADAAA 2008. This would include assessments and letters relating to the disability and requested accommodations from a healthcare provider, mental health professional, school psychologist, teachers, or the educational system and documents such as a neuropsychological or psycho-educational evaluation, Individualized Education Program (IEP), 504 Plan, Summary of Performance (SOP).

1. Completed by a licensed/credentialed evaluator
2. A diagnostic statement identifying your disability and the diagnostic methodology used. Documentation should include a description of the diagnostic criteria, evaluation methods, procedures, tests, and dates of administration, along with a clinical narrative, observation, and specific results
3. Description of the student’s current functional limitations. Documentation should include how the disabling condition(s) currently impact. Documentation should provide a clear sense of the severity, frequency, and pervasiveness of the condition.
4. A description of past accommodations and services as well as recommendations for accommodations going forward. This could include auxiliary aids, assistive devices, support services, and accommodations, including their effectiveness in alleviating functional impacts of the disability.
5. Documentation that is purchased off the internet rarely supports the determination of services

Provision of accommodation in another setting does not mean an accommodation can be provided in the university setting, but having this information is helpful to us in making reasonable decisions about services and accommodations.

The final determination for the current status of the documentation rests with the institution. All documentation must be presented in advance of the requested accommodation.