Documentation Guidelines and Criteria

Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973, individuals with disabilities are protected from discrimination and assured services and accommodations that provide equal access to the activities and programs of the university. To establish that an individual is covered under ADA, documentation from a qualified professional must verify that the disability substantially limits a major life activity.

Individual Educational Plans (IEPs) and Section 504 Plans from high school do not typically include the information necessary to receive accommodations. Please plan accordingly with your guidance counselor or school staff to ensure that updated evaluations are completed during your senior year and that narrative reports meet the documentation criteria as outlined.

Guidelines:

1. Be recent, relevant and comprehensive, and contain test scores and interpretation if appropriate (e.g. learning disability reports, audiograms, ADHD, etc.)
2. Demonstrate a substantial impact on one or more major life activities.
3. Indicate whether the impact is current and stable or fluctuating (conditions that fluctuate over time may require more recent documentation and ongoing updates of documentation).
4. Adequately verify the nature and extent of the disability in accordance with current professional standards and techniques of the practitioner.
5. Clearly substantiate the need for all of the student’s requested accommodations.
6. Be provided by a licensed clinical professional familiar with the history and functional limitations of the impairments.  The clinical professional should not be a member of the student’s family.
7. Be submitted on official letterhead of the professional describing the disability.
8. Be dated and signed and include the name, title and professional credentials of the evaluator and information about state licensing and/or certification.
9. Students with multiple disabilities should identify all diagnosed disabilities.  By doing so, the coordinator is best equipped to make the most appropriate accommodation recommendations.

If initial documentation is incomplete or does not adequately address the criteria to determine the extent of a disability or the need for accommodations, the University has the discretion to require additional documentation. Any cost incurred in obtaining documentation is the responsibility of the student.

Criteria

Psychological/Psychiatric Disabilities [Word]

Medical Disabilities and Acute/Chronic Health Conditions [Word]

 Assistance Animal Criteria [Word]

Housing Accomodation Criteria [PDF]