What kind of documentation is needed to verify a disability?
The disability documentation must be provided by a qualified professional. The documentation must be current, must provide a clear diagnosis of the disability, and must include sufficient information to determine the extent of the disability and what accommodations are appropriate. The University recommends following the best practices for documentation guidelines from the Association on Higher Education and Disabilities (AHEAD). The seven elements of documentation recommended by AHEAD include the following: • The credentials of the evaluator(s) • A diagnostic statement identifying the disability • A description of the diagnostic methodology used • A description of the current functional limitations • A description of the expected progression or stability of the disability • A description of current and past accommodations, services and/or medications • Recommendations for accommodations, adaptive devices, assistive services, compensatory strategies, and/or collateral support services.
