Students, faculty and staff with a disability who are requesting accommodations or services through the Office of Disability Services are required to provide appropriate documentation of their disability from a licensed professional.
Specific Documentation Instructions
- Medical/Physical Disability
- Psychiatric Disability
- Learning Disability
- Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD/ADHD)
It is the responsibility of the student to obtain and supply the college with all necessary documentation. Clear, comprehensive and current documentation must be submitted with sufficient time for it to be reviewed and for any necessary accommodations to be arranged. Insufficient documentation may result in delays in receiving accommodations.
Guidelines
Documentation must state:
- your diagnosis and course of treatment
- the nature and severity of your functional limitations
- the duration for which they are expected to continue
- must substantiate the need for specific accommodations requested
If your clinician feels that your condition or learning difficulties are significant enough to constitute a disability, this should be explicitly stated.
AHEAD Compliance
Documentation submitted must comply with the guidelines established by the Association of Higher Education and the Disabled (AHEAD).
Documentation Not Accepted
- Examples of unacceptable documentation include a brief note from a doctor that simply requests an accommodation, information or notes written on prescription pad or a copy of aftercare instruction given to patients.
- Documentation of a learning disability which is not comprehensive or which identifies learning "problems or challenges," but does not specifically diagnose a learning disability, will be unacceptable under most circumstances.
Please note: Medical documentation or testing for learning disabilities in grades K-12 under special education programs or which met individual state requirements may not be acceptable at the college level.
More Information
If you have any questions about whether your documentation is sufficient, please contact us.
Please note: Documentation is not reviewed to assess the need for medical or clinical intervention or remedial educational services. Clinical consultation to correct specific learning problems or for remedial assistance is not provided or paid for by the college. Limited access to a learning specialist is available to review existing documentation, evaluate the need for further testing, to inform the process of determining necessary accommodations and to advise about the appropriateness of other campus and community-based supports.
