Medical/ Mobility/ Sensory Impairments

The Americans with Disability Act recognizes that certain medical conditions result in impairment for which accommodations may be necessary. Accommodations and services for students with such chronic medical conditions are developed and designed on the basis of individual needs.

A diagnosis of a disability in and of itself does not automatically warrant approval of requested accommodations. Documentation for eligibility must reflect the current impact the disability has on the students’ academic functioning (the age of acceptable documentation is dependent upon the disabling condition, the current status of the student and the student's request for accommodations).

Documentation should be completed by the attending physician and include:

• A clear statement of disability and a summary of present symptoms.
• The treatment history and treatment plan.
• The impact of the disorder on the individual with particular detail regarding the academic and/or residential setting.
• When requesting a specific accommodation a link must be established between the requested accommodation and the functional limitation of the student in the academic and/or residential environment.
• In cases of head trauma, a neuropsychological battery is helpful in determining accommodation.
• For sensory impairments an audiogram by an audiologist or an ophthalmology report from an ophthalmologist will be helpful in determining accommodation.

Students requesting accommodation should meet with a Disability Services Office counselor to determine their eligibility for services. It is the responsibility of the student to obtain the documentation and present a copy to the Disability Services Office. Any correspondence regarding the adequacy of the submitted documentation will be sent to the student. It is the student's responsibility to obtain additional information or clarification. Further assessment by an appropriate professional may be required if co-existing learning disabilities or other disabling conditions are indicated.