Requirements for Disability Documentation

Documentation Requirements

Purpose

Students requesting academic accommodations from CDHP at WesternU must first disclose the need for accommodations, complete a Student Intake Form, and submit documentation of their disability. Eligibility for reasonable accommodations and services are determined through an interactive process considering disability documentation, student report of how their condition impacts them, perceived need for accommodations, history of accommodations (if any), and specific program requirements including technical standards.

While CDHP acknowledges that once a person is diagnosed as having a disability, the disability may be life-long. The severity of the condition and/or how it impacts an individual in different settings may change over time. The purpose for requiring documentation is to consider each student individually and to understand if and how the student is currently impacted by their disability in relation to this educational environment. This information is necessary for CDHP staff to make an informed decision about the need for accommodations and services and to help identify effective options.

Students who suspect they have a disability are encouraged to contact CDHP to discuss options for obtaining documentation.

General Guidelines

General guidelines for documentation are outlined below:

• Documentation of disability must be provided by a properly credentialed professional.
• Documentation should establish the existence of a disability, indicate the degree to which the student’s disability substantially limits a major life activity, and describe the barriers and manner in which the disability limits the student’s ability to function in the academic environment.
• Documentation may include, but is not limited to, the following:
  • Test scores
  • Objective medical data
  • Clinical observations
  • The student’s actual performance in similar situations
• A direct link between the diagnosis and the requested accommodations.
• Types of documentation accepted by CDHP may include letters from healthcare professionals, CDHP’s Disability Verification Form, Visit Summaries from Urgent Care or Emergency Room, psychoeducational or neuropsychological evaluations, audiograms, and vision evaluations.
• The documentation must be submitted on the provider’s professional letterhead or CDHP’s Disability Verification Form.
• For specific documentation requirements refer to the information outlined below.

Documentation Submission

To submit disability documentation, follow the steps below:

1. Download the Provider Requirements for Disability Documentation or download CDHP’s Disability Verification Form and provide it to your healthcare provider to request documentation of your disability.
2. Email disabilityaccommodations@westernu.edu and attach a pdf version (no image files) of disability-related documentation that supports your request.
3. CDHP will inform you if additional documentation is required. Students may expedite this process by completing the Authorization to Release Confidential Information.

When determining reasonable accommodations, CDHP will consider all recommendations suggested by the healthcare provider.

Disclaimer

Although CDHP may accept the documentation you submit to establish disability, certain licensing or certification boards may require more recent or comprehensive diagnosis-specific documentation before providing accommodations on their exams. We suggest that you check their websites.