Here's what we need you to provide to document your disability, and why.
Documentation of Your Disability
Documentation that indicates you have a specific disability is necessary for both
legal and educational purposes. The appropriate documentation verifies your disability
and qualifies you for necessary services under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Compensatory services to address
your disability are determined by the specific nature and severity of your disability.
The information necessary for both legal and educational purposes is included in an
assessment report, which must be completed by a qualified professional. Qualified
professionals include medical doctors and licensed psychologists. The assessment should
be recent and should include the type of disability diagnosed and the limits the disability
imposes on your ability to function. Assessment reports that are more than a few years
old generally contain information that is outdated.
Recent assessment reports are beneficial, not only to document the existence of a
disability, but also to support requests for accommodations such as extended time
for testing, alternate test formats, priority scheduling and other support services.
Requests for accommodations cannot be granted without supporting documentation. Also,
a recent assessment will support your request for accommodations on other standardized
testing required by some programs at the University.
Obtaining a recent assessment is the responsibility of the person requesting accommodations.
You may be able to obtain an evaluation by requesting assessment information from
your hometown physician. Other sources could include the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation
(OVR), the Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services (BVS), or private practitioners
in your area.
No accommodations can be provided without this information. Once provided, it is not
necessary to provide new information each year unless the nature of your disability
changes significantly or you are requesting accommodations for a disability not mentioned
in your original documentation.