Disability Documentation Guidelines

General Guidelines

In order to be eligible for accommodations through the Special Services Center at Southwestern Illinois College, you need to provide documentation about your disabilities. Based upon an interactive process with the student by the Special Services professional staff, as well as a review of the documentation, eligibility for reasonable accommodations is determined.

If you think you qualify for accommodated services, the Special Services Center staff encourages you to make an appointment in our office. In order to provide adequate time to obtain your documentation and arrange for accommodations, schedule your appointment 6 - 8 weeks before enrolling in your first semester. To make an appointment, the Special Services Center telephone numbers and locations are as follows:

If you already have documentation, bring the information to your first appointment. Your documentation will be individually evaluated. If the documentation does not address the current impact of your disability, a re-evaluation may be required. If you do not have documentation regarding your disabilities but think you may qualify for accommodations, you still should make an appointment in the Special Services Center. If needed, staff can refer you to professionals or agencies that can provide diagnostic testing for specific disabilities (e.g., learning disabilities). If you have multiple disabilities and depending upon the accommodations you request, documentation from more than one professional may be needed. It is wise to share with your qualified professional the "Documentation Guidelines" sheet for your specific disabilities. The cost of the evaluation will be your responsibility. It is recommended that you check with your medical insurance company or employee assistance program (EAP) regarding possible coverage.

For information regarding Southwestern Illinois College's specific documentation guidelines, check the links below. Hard copies of the guidelines are also available in the Special Services Center upon request. Finally, it is important for you to know that disability laws governing colleges and high schools are different. In addition, documentation guidelines vary from one college to another.

Guidelines for Documenting Disabilities

• Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disability
• Learning Disability
• Physical/Health Related Disability
• Psychiatric Disability