Now that you’ve reviewed the purpose of documentation, what do you tell your provider about the information needed to assist with determining eligibility for accommodations?
We recommend you ask for a letter or summary document with the following information:
- Diagnosis or Impression
- Current symptoms
- Any resulting limitations
- Impact on learning
This letter or summary document needs to be provided on official letterhead with the following information:
- Name, Title, and Professional Credentials of the Evaluator
- Address & Phone Number
- Email address & Website url (if available)
- Signature of the evaluator and License Number
Examples of documentation include but are not limited to:
- Psychoeducational evaluations
- Reports and/or assessments from health care providers, psychologists, or the educational system
- Documents that reflect educational assessments and/or accommodation history, such as an IEP – Individual Education Plan, SOP – Summary of Performance, 504 Plan and teacher observations
If the documentation submitted does not support the accommodation request, we may request additional and/or different documentation to assist in determining eligibility for accommodations.
Considerations:
- Please do NOT bring years of medical/psychological records, case notes, therapy notes, etc.
- A diagnosis does not equal a disability.
- When we receive documentation, we incorporate this information into the ‘Body of Evidence’ we are developing from our meeting/intake interview, review of records, etc.
- We will specifically look for the ‘Impact’ of the condition/disability and the severity of the impact (mild, moderate, severe).
- We will use all information gathered to determine eligibility for accommodations.
- A recommendation by an evaluator does not mean that this recommendation will be approved as an accommodation.
- Example: Evaluator recommends that a student receive test questions in advance of the test. This recommendation would NOT be approved as an accommodation designed to provide equal access to an education.
- After reviewing all available information, Disability Resources & Services staff will make the final determination of reasonable accommodations.