Disability Specific Guidelines for Obtaining Documentation
Guidelines for Obtaining Medical Documentation for Physical Disabilities
Please share the following information with your medical provider, as it may assist him or her in providing the information needed to determine your individual accommodations.
Any physical disability or systemic illness are considered to be in the medical domain and require the expertise of a physician, including a neurologist, psychiatrist or other medical specialist with experience and expertise in the area for which accommodations are being requested. Examples of this type of impairment include: Mobility Impairments, Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy, Chemical Sensitivities, Spinal Cord Injury, Cancer, AIDS, Muscular Dystrophy, Spina Bifida. The diagnostician must be an impartial individual who is not a family member of the student.
The following guidelines are provided to assist the service provider in collaborating with each student to determine appropriate accommodations. Documentation serves as the foundation that legitimizes a student's request for appropriate accommodations.
Recommended forms of documentation include:
- A clear statement of the medical diagnosis of the physical disability or systemic illness.
- Documentation for eligibility must reflect the current impact the physical disability or systemic illness has on the student's functioning, (the age of acceptable documentation is dependent upon the disabling condition, the student's request for accommodations, and the current status of the student. Therefore, disabilities that are sporadic or degenerative may require more frequent evaluation).
- A summary of assessment procedures and evaluation instruments used to make the diagnosis and a summary of evaluation results, including results and standardized scores if applicable.
- A description of present symptoms which meet the criteria for diagnosis.
- Medical information related to the student's needs to include the impact of medication on the student's ability to meet the demands of the postsecondary environment.
- A statement of the functional impact or limitations of the disability on learning or other major life activity and the degree to which it impacts the individual in the learning context for which accommodations are being requested.
Further assessment by an appropriate professional may be required if co-existing disabling conditions are indicated. The student and the ADA Center at Idaho State University collaboratively determine appropriate accommodations.