Documentation Requirements
Students requesting reasonable accommodations and/or services must submit documentation of a disabling condition to verify eligibility under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the ADA Amendments Act of 2008. Federal Law requires that all applications for disability services be considered on an individual, case-by-case basis. Based on guidance from the Association of Higher Education and Disabilities (AHEAD), the national best practice standard, sources of information used for determining eligibility for accommodations may include a student’s self-report, direct observation/interaction with the student and documentation from qualified evaluators and/or professionals.
Student Self-Report
In order for Disability Support Services (DSS) to provide appropriate accommodations, we ask students who apply for services to describe their disability, how it impacts their educational experience and what accommodations they have effectively used in the past.
Direct Observation/Interaction
Students are required to participate in an Intake Meeting with their assigned Case Manager to discuss their request for services. This meeting will give the Case Manager the opportunity to better understand the impact of the student's disability on functioning in the academic environment.
Documentation from Qualified Evaluators and/or Professionals
In addition to the student self-report, documentation from external sources may include educational or medical records, reports, and assessments created by health care providers, psychologists, diagnosticians and/or the educational system. This documentation should provide diagnostic information as well as information on the functional impact of the disability so that effective accommodations may be identified. Inadequate information or illegible documents will delay the Case Review Process.