Guidelines for Housing Accommodation Requests

Housing Accommodation Request Guidelines

Documentation must be in the form of a typed letter and meet the following criteria:

• Current (e.g., within one year).
• Written by a qualified impartial professional who is treating you for the diagnosed disability. (examples include: physician, psychiatrist, psychologist/therapist or other licensed treatment provider). The writer should have expertise and experience in the area for which the accommodations are being requested. Documentation cannot be written by a family member.
• Letterhead (name, license/certification, area of specialization, employer, contact information, credentials).
• A valid signature or electronic signature.
• Written in English or be an official translation.
• A clear diagnostic statement of disability (including DSM-V diagnosis, if applicable)
• Description of current symptoms (frequency, duration, severity)
• Impact the disability has on functioning in a residential environment.
• Dates of treatment including initial appointment/treatment, most recent evaluation, appointment frequency, etc.
• Types of treatment including medication, therapy, procedures, etc.
• A specific recommendation for requested accommodation.
• Rationale for necessity of accommodation and explanation for how it relates to treatment plan.
• Additional relevant information that will aid our office in evaluating the student’s request.

This documentation will be kept confidential and will be utilized only to determine the student’s eligibility for accommodations and type of accommodation required. Emerson reserves the right to determine the adequacy of the documentation provided and the right to request additional information as deemed necessary by the college to evaluate the request.