Students are responsible for providing the Office of Special Populations with current documentation of their disability.
To establish that an individual is covered under the ADA, documentation must indicate that a specific disability exists and that the identified disability substantially limits one or more major life activities. A major life activity includes walking, reading, writing, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, working, caring for oneself and other similar activities. A diagnosis of a disorder/condition/syndrome in and of itself does not automatically qualify an individual for accommodations under the ADA. The documentation must support the request for accommodations, academic adjustments, and/or auxiliary aids.
The following is a list of documentation guidelines for different types of disabilities and must be delivered to the Special Populations Coordinator.
1.) Medical and Long Term Disabilities
Documentation should be appropriate to the nature of the disability. The documentation must be provided by a physician or other appropriate professional who specializes in the area of the physical disability. A permanent medical disability (i.e. blindness) can be supported by documentation that is up to 5 years old. All other documentation must be no more than 3 years old and include:
a.) Identification of the specific disability and functional limitations
b.) Recommendations for specific accommodations that must link the accommodations requested to the functional limitations.
2.) Mental Health Disorders
Documentation should be no more than one year old to ensure accuracy of information. It must be provided by a licensed clinical psychologist or psychiatrist or other professional who specializes in psychological disabilities and include:
a.) Identification of the specific disability
b.) Presenting symptoms and how they impact the student academically (functional limitations)
c.) Prognosis - including treatment information if medications prescribed could impact the student's academic functioning
d.) Recommendations for specific accommodations that must link the accommodations requested to the functional limitations
3.) Attention Deficit Disorders (ADD) or Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorders (ADHD)
Documentation can be in the form of a psycho-educational report from a licensed psychologist (or other qualified professional) or it may be in the form of a letter prepared by a licensed professional who has had the specific training to make differential mental diagnoses (psychiatrists, psychologists, neurologists, etc.). Documentation should be no more than 3 years old to ensure accuracy of information. If submitting a letter from a physician it must include:
a.) Identification of the specific disability
b.) Presenting symptoms and how they impact the student academically (functional limitations)
c.) Prognosis - Include treatment information if medications prescribed could impact the student's academic functioning
d.) Recommendations for specific accommodations that must link the accommodations requested to the functional limitations
4.) Other Learning Disabilities
Documentation should be provided by a licensed psychologist or neuropsychologist, be no more than 3 years old to ensure accuracy of information and include:
a.) Identification of the specific disability and functional limitations
b.) Recommendations for specific accommodations that must link the accommodations requested to the functional limitations
