Physical Disability & Systemic Illness Guidelines

When requesting an academic, housing, or dining accommodation, you must provide written documentation of your disability. Your information will be kept confidential and will be used only to determine your eligibility for accommodation or services, and the type of accommodations or level of service required.

Requirements for all documentation:

• Must be current (within one year)
• Prepared by a qualified impartial professional (e.g., a psychologist, neuropsychologist, psychiatrist, or other relevantly trained medical doctor), who is not a family member)
• Typed on official letterhead, which must include the professional's name, license/certification/degree, area of specialization, employment, address, phone, signature, and date
• Includes recommendation for compensations and services to assist the student

In addition, your documentation for a physical disability must include:

• Dates of initial testing/diagnosis and most recent evaluation (the age of acceptable documentation is dependent upon the disabling condition, the current medical status, and the accommodation request; disabilities or conditions that are sporadic, degenerative, or regenerative may require more frequent evaluation)
• Medical, developmental, and educational histories
• A clear diagnostic statement of the disability/illness and degree of severity, including a discussion of how the physical disability substantially limits the student’s performance in an academic setting or impedes his or her full access/participation in a residential setting.
• Summary of evaluation instruments/procedures and results which meet diagnostic criteria, especially such information that may assist the Disability Officer in understanding the student’s need for accommodation, including cognitive and achievement measures.
• For nutritionally-related petitions, attach a detailed outline of a proposed therapeutic diet which is inclusive of foods that are recommended for medical nutrition therapy.
• Prognosis for the student’s condition
• Description of current residual symptoms and the degree of impact the disability/illness has on the student’s functioning in a postsecondary environment (disability must substantially limit a major life activity or significantly restrict the condition, manner or duration under which a major life activity is performed)
• Statement of positive/negative effect of medication on the student’s functioning in the post-secondary environment
• Specific recommendations for accommodations and services that would facilitate the student’s reasonable and appropriate access to the College’s academic programs and residential life settings, including rationale for each accommodation.