Student Disability Services works with students with disabilities to obtain documentation which assists in determining eligibility for accommodations. Eligibility for reasonable and appropriate accommodations is based on current, comprehensive documentation of disability. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain and provide this information in a timely manner.

By sending the most comprehensive information possible, you will help us to avoid delays in the processing of your documentation. Documentation should provide a basic understanding of the individual’s disability and enough information to anticipate how the current impact of the disability is expected to interact with the University’s structure of courses, testing methods, program requirements, etc.  Simply providing documentation does not ensure students will be eligible. Documentation will be used to determine what is reasonable and appropriate for the individual, including history of accommodations and services used in the past.

The following information does not apply to students providing documentation of learning disabilities.  Please follow this link for more information,  Learning Disability Documentation.

There are two ways to provide documentation from an appropriately qualified professional that makes evident the current impact of the disability as it relates to the accommodation(s) requested.  

The following forms are provided for your convenience.

• Disability Verification for Students with Psychiatric Disabilities
• Disability Verification for Students with Medical Disabilities
• Disability Verification for Students with Attention Deficit Disorders 

OR

The general guidelines listed below are developed to assist you in working with your treating/diagnosing professional(s) to prepare the information required to evaluate your request for services.  

• Current functional impact of the condition(s). Please describe how this condition impacts their daily life, especially in regards to their academics.  Also, indicate how the condition impairs any major life activities, such as concentrating, learning, sleeping, etc. (Please refer to Section 504 for a more complete list.)

• Treatments, medications, accommodations/auxiliary aids, services currently prescribed or in use. Provide a description of treatments, medications, accommodations and/or services currently in use and their estimated effectiveness in minimizing the impact of the condition(s). Include any significant side effects that may impact physical, perceptual, behavioral or cognitive performance. If you feel that any additional accommodations are warranted, please list them along with a clear rationale and related functional limitations. Any accommodations will be taken into consideration, but not automatically implemented.

• The expected progression or stability of disability over time. If possible, provide a description of the expected change in the functional impact of the condition(s) over time. If the condition is variable, describe the known triggers that may exacerbate the condition.

• A diagnostic statement identifying the disability. When appropriate, include International Classification of Diseases (ICD) or Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM) codes, the date of the most recent evaluation, or the dates of evaluations performed by referring professionals. If the most recent evaluation was not a full evaluation, indicate when the last full evaluation was conducted.

 

Special Note for temporary disabilities: Adjustments may be made to mitigate the impact of temporarily disabling conditions.  A medical statement may be required during the short period the person is recovering. Please refer to the guidelines for Medical Disabilities and contact SDS for assistance on a case-by-case basis.

A student who has a temporary illness (e.g. cold or flu), is recovering from surgery not based on a long-term condition, or loses mobility for a short period of time (e.g., due to a broken limb, appendage, or a surgery) would not be considered to have a disability.