Documentation Requirements
What documents do I need?
In order to receive disability services, the student is required to provide the Disibility Services (DS) office with current (within the past three years) documentation that verifies their disability. Documentation needed to assess each student’s eligibility for disability services varies widely; the chart below describes the documentation requirements for each disability.
If your disability is not listed below, please contact the DS office for assistance.
| DISABILITY | REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION |
| Attention Deficit Disorder/Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADD/ADHD) |
Completed information/verification form by a licensed physician, psychiatrist or psychologist indicating diagnosis, assessment of how diagnosis may limit the student in the classroom and recommended accommodations. |
| Emotional/Mental Illness | A psychological evaluation performed usually within the past three years, which also should be submitted with the verification form. Usually a psychologist, psychiatrist, a nurse or doctor trained in mental health, or a similarly trained professional can diagnose. Include supplemental material, such as psychiatric evaluation. |
| Learning Disability* | Educational testing completed as an adult OR within three years. Usually a psychologist or a speech and language specialist conducts these evaluations. Testing results are required. |
| Permanent Sensory or Physical Disability | Completed verification form that includes diagnosis, assessment of how the diagnosis may limit the student in the classroom, and recommended accommodations. If the information provided by a health-care professional is not specific or incomplete, the student will need to provide more detailed verification. General temporary illnesses and conditions (e.g., cold, flu, normal pregnancy, etc.) are not considered for accommodations. Please provide any supplemental materials such as hospital stays and other medical notes that might assist in verifying disability. |
| Vision Conditions | Optometrist, ophthalmologist, or physician specializing in conditions of the eyes must complete a verification form including diagnosis, assessment of how the diagnosis may limit the student in the classroom, and recommended accommodations. Include any supplemental materials such as visual test verifying the condition. |
| Hearing Conditions | Completed information/verification form that includes diagnosis, assessment of how the diagnosis may limit student in classroom, and recommended accommodations. Verification must be provided by an audiologist, speech and language pathologist, or physician specifically trained to work with hearing conditions. A copy of an audiogram should be included with the information/verification form. |
*Common Learning Disabilities
Dyslexia
A language-based disability in which a person has trouble understanding written words. It may also be referred to as a reading disability or reading disorder.
Dyscalculia
A mathematical disability in which a person has a difficult time solving arithmetic problems and grasping math concepts.
Dysgraphia
A writing disability in which a person finds it hard to form letters or write within a defined space.
Auditory and Visual Processing Disorders
Sensory disabilities in which a person has difficulty understanding language despite normal hearing and vision.
Nonverbal Learning Disabilities
A neurological disorder which originates in the right hemisphere of the brain, causing problems with visual-spatial, intuitive, organizational, evaluative and holistic processing functions.
