Documentation Guidelines

Documentation Guidelines

It is the student's responsibility to initiate contact with the Office for Academic Success (OAS) and to provide appropriate documentation of the disability and related functional limitations for which they are requesting accommodations.This process follows the rules published by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights (OCR) for the interpretation and implementation of Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the ADA Amendment Act of 2008 (ADAAA), as well as Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and is designed to ensure that reasonable, appropriate accommodations are provided to all qualified students in a timely manner. A diagnosis of a disability in and of itself does not automatically qualify an individual for accommodations. In order to meet the criteria of "disability," under federal law a person must provide documentation of how their impairment "substantially limits" one or more life activities.

The following documentation guidelines are used to verify the student's disabling condition(s):

• A clear diagnostic statement that describes how the condition was diagnosed, information about the functional impact and suggestions of appropriate accommodations are supported by the documentation.
• Provided by a licensed or otherwise properly credentialed professional who has undergone appropriate and comprehensive training, has relevant experience, and has no personal relationship with the individual being evaluated.
• All documentation must be on official letterhead, typed and signed by the professional. Diagnoses written on prescription pads, handwritten, or stamped with a signature will not be accepted.
• Disability documentation needs to be recent enough in order to assess the current impact on learning or a major life activity; typically within the last five (5) years. Discretion will be used in accepting older documentation of conditions that are permanent or unchanging in nature.
• Documentation written in a language other than English must be translated and notarized.

Note: An IEP or 504 Plan from the public school system is not sufficient documentation of a disability for accommodations at the college level.

Confidentiality

The Office for Academic Success (OAS) maintains confidentiality with regard to accommodations, including requests, supporting documentation, approvals/denials of requests, and implementation of approved accommodations. At its discretion, OAS may share information with University staff and/or faculty, but will do so only to the extent necessary to accurately process requests, interpret supporting documentation, and implement approved accommodations. Exceptions may be made to comply with the requirements of governmental administration investigations and hearings, litigation, court proceedings, or campus officials having an official need to know.

Accessibility

Any person who wants to have the Accommodations Request for Services Application or the Documentation Guidelines explained, or would like to receive it in an alternate format, should make a request to the Coordinator of the Office for Academic Success (OAS).