Disability Documentation

Documentation for a disability must be current, complete, and provided by a qualified professional. All documentation must be on letterhead, typed, dated, and signed by the qualified professional.  Guidelines for information  pertaining to specific disabilities are provided in the links below. Verification forms are available for specific disability categories and can be utilized in place of a letter from the professional. 

Click on the links below to view and print guidelines and forms:

DISABILITY GUIDELINES:	VERIFICATION FORMS:
Hearing Loss	Hearing Loss
Physical or Medical Disability	Physical or Medical Disability
ADHD	ADHD
Blindness and Low Vision	Blindness and Low Vision
Learning Disabilities	Full psycho-educational report required per guidelines
Psychological Disabilities	Psychological Disabilities
Traumatic Brain Injury	Traumatic Brain Injury

Documentation varies depending on the specific disability and each student's documentation is individually reviewed. Minimally, the documentation must establish the current functional limitations resulting from the disability. The documentation must provide enough information about the history, scope, and depth of the disability for the University to determine the presence of a disabling condition which significantly impairs a major life function and imposes limitation on some activity associated with the academic process. A school plan such as an Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) or a 504 Plan is insufficient documentation in and of itself to determine eligibility. These school plans may be included as a part of a more comprehensive evaluative report and are often helpful in describing students' strengths as well as possible deficits. The qualifications of the professional providing documentation need to be clearly indicated and the language by which the disability is described must be consistent with standard practice within the profession. A formal diagnosis is expected. All documentation is reviewed by the professional staff of SDS and, when necessary, reviewed by consultants with expertise in specific disability areas. In some cases, students are requested to provide more documentation than originally submitted. Additionally, recommendations for accommodations to mitigate the impact of the disability are appreciated, but are not essential.

Temporary Disabilities

Academic adjustments may be provided for students with temporary injuries (e.g. broken bones, recovery from surgery). SDS may coordinate such services as extra time for examinations, use of a scribe, note taker assistance and other accommodations. Students need to complete an application and supportive documentation from a qualified professional using the Temporary Disability Verification Form