The following disability categories are not exhaustive, and students should always consult with Disability Services with respect to their specific request for reasonable accommodation and whether documentation will be required in their cases. Please present these guidelines to the professional, who will provide the College with the needed documentation.
The College references the AHEAD guidelines (Association on Higher Education and Disability) for appropriate documentation. Accordingly, please note the following sources of documentation:
- Primary Documentation: Student’s self-report
- Secondary Documentation: Observation and Interaction
- Tertiary documentation: Information from External or Third Parties
Please submit any documentation you may have in advance to give the Disability Services team amble time to prepare for your interactive intake meeting. Please ensure that the documentation pages are in the correct chronological order and are not password encrypted. The preferred format for documentation is PDF format.
If you are submitting documentation from high school, you must submit your 504 plan or IEP and Evaluation/Reevaluation Report. These items need to be the official, signed documents, not a draft version.
Each accommodation request is reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Learning disability documentation
Learning disability documentation, preferably within three years of enrollment at the college, should include current level of functioning in the following areas:
- Cognitive functioning
- Academic achievement in reading, writing, and mathematics
- Information processing; processing speed and fluency; memory; and executive functioning
The documentation should also include:
- List of tests administered
- Summary of diagnostic interview and relevant history
- A clear statement diagnosing LD
- Data and analysis supporting the diagnosis, including standard scores and percentiles
- Discussion of processing strengths and weaknesses, and whether any deficits currently cause substantial limitations to academic functioning
- A rationale for recommended reasonable accommodations to compensate for deficits.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Documentation
ADHD documentation, preferably within three years of enrollment at the college, should include the following:
- A clear statement diagnosing ADHD, level of severity, and date of most recent evaluation
- Description of the methods, criteria, and tests (if any) used to make the diagnosis
- Description of current symptoms that meet diagnostic criteria
- Summary of relevant history, evaluation findings, and impact on learning
- Discussion of whether current symptoms cause substantial limitations to learning
- A rationale for recommended reasonable accommodations to compensate for deficits.
Students with ADHD may submit the ADHD Verification Form (PDF), fully completed by a qualified professional.
Psychological Disability Documentation (including Autism Spectrum Disorders)
Psychological disability documentation, preferably within three years of enrollment at the college, should include the following information:
- DSM diagnosis (if applicable), level of severity, and date of most recent evaluation
- Description of the methods, criteria, and tests (if any) used to make the diagnosis
- Description of current symptoms that meet diagnostic criteria
- Summary of relevant history, evaluation findings, and impact on learning
- Discussion of whether current symptoms cause substantial limitations to learning
- A rationale for recommended reasonable accommodations to compensate for deficits.
Students with Mental Health disorders may submit the Mental Health Verification Form (PDF), fully completed by a qualified professional.
Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) may submit the ASD Verification Form (PDF), completed in full by a qualified professional.
Physical Disability, Chronic Medical Condition, Visual or Hearing Impairment
A student with a physical disability, chronic medical condition or visual or hearing impairment may be required to provide information to support a request for a reasonable accommodation. The documentation must be a written report of an evaluation by an appropriate professional (e.g., medical doctor, physical or occupational therapist, audiologist) relating the current impact of the condition to the requested accommodations. The following information should be included:
- A clearly stated diagnosis, level of severity, and date of the most recent examination
- Description of the methods, criteria, and tests (if any) used to make the diagnosis
- Summary of relevant history, examinations findings, and current symptoms
- Discussion of whether any manifestations of the condition currently cause substantial limitations to learning or functioning in a college environment
- The expected duration or progression of the condition
- A rationale for recommended reasonable accommodations to compensate for deficits.
Students with Physical, Chronic Health, or Sensory disabilities may submit the Physical, Chronic Health, and Sensory Verification form (PDF) completed in full by a qualified professional.
Traumatic or Acquired Brain Injury
Documentation must be submitted by a licensed physician, neurologist, psychologist or neuropsychologist. Documentation should be current, preferably within the last three years; (the age of acceptable documentation is dependent upon the recency of the injury and student’s current functional status).
- A clear statement of the brain injury and the probable site of lesion
- A summary of cognitive and achievement measures used and evaluation results including standardized scores, or percentiles used to make the diagnosis.
- Description of strengths and weaknesses; identification of substantial limitations to learning
- A summary of present residual symptoms which meet the criteria for diagnosis
- Medical information relating to the student's needs should include the impact of medication
- A rationale for recommended reasonable accommodations to compensate for deficits.
Students with Traumatic or Acquired Brain Injury may submit the Concussion Documentation Form (PDF), completed in full by a qualified professional.