Disability Access Services

Why does DAS need documentation of disability?

Providing us with your disability's documentation will let us help you better. It is your responsibility to get documentation and provide it to DAS. All disabilities defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 as Amended are recoginzed disabilities at our Disability Access Services Office (DAS).

What counts as documentation?

Documentation is a written diagnosis from a licensed clinical professional. The licensed clinical professional could be a doctor or a psychologist, for example. The clinical professional needs to be familiar with the history of your disability and its effects. When the clinical professional gives you the written diagnosis describing the disability, the diagnosis needs to be printed on official letterhead. The letterhead can belong to the doctor/psychologist, or the place they work (clinic, school, etc.).

What should documentation of a disability include?

• Identification of the nature and extent of the disability.
• The date when you were diagnosed with the disability.
• Information that shows the effects of the disability.
  • The functional impact on physical, perceptual, cognitive, and behavioral abilities should be described explicitly or through specific results from diagnostic procedures.
• Medications and side effects, or a description of treatments, assistive devices, etc. that you use and their effect.
• Documentation is usually provided by a licensed clinician.
  • Licensed clinicians include physicians, nurse practitioners, psychologists, learning disabilities specialists, rehabilitation or mental health counselors, or other qualified medical practitioners. 
• The clinician's credentials and contact information.
• Documentation should be current.
  • You may be asked to provide updated documentation if your condition changes, or if you let us know about a new disability.

What if I have IEPs and 504 Plans/K-12 Transition documents? Are those enough?

Not quite. An Individualized Education Plan or 504 plan may help us identify services you have used in the past, but usually, it is not enough information. If your high school completed a three-year review or an evaluation in your junior or senior year, this information would be the most useful. If you had an outside evaluation that was used to determine services, this may be useful, as well.

What if I don’t have documentation?

Every individual situation is unique, so whether or not you have documentation, please come by our office. We would love to discuss how we may be able to support your academic goals. Questions?