Disability Documentation Guidelines

Psychiatric Disability

Services Center will need documentation of your psychiatric disability. Your documentation needs to consist of an evaluation by a qualified professional who needs to describe the current impact of your disability as it relates to accommodation
request(s). The guidelines below were developed to assist you in obtaining information in order for us to collaboratively determine reasonable accommodations.

A Qualified Professional Should Conduct the Evaluation

• Verification of your disability needs to be made by a qualified professional, for example, a psychiatrist, psychologist, licensed clinical social worker, or licensed professional counselor. The professional completing the evaluation should not be a family member.
• The report should be on the professional's letterhead and include the following: Name, title, signature of the evaluator, professional's credentials, and the date of the assessment.

Documentation Should Describe the Current Functional Impact of the Psychiatric Disability on Major Life Activities

• Ask your treating professional to provide a report that includes the following:
  1. DSM - IV diagnosis with the date of the diagnosis and the most recent report
  2. use of medication
  3. description of how the psychiatric disability affects major life activities with or without treatment
  4. functional limitations that may affect programs in higher education
  5. suggested academic accommodation recommendations
• Any recommended accommodations by the qualified professional should include a detailed explanation as to why each accommodation is needed. While the qualified professional's recommendations will be taken into consideration, final determination of reasonable accommodations will be made by the Special Services Center staff.
• Reasonable accommodations are based on current level of functioning and current impact of the disability on academic performance. The age of acceptable documentation (typically within the past year) is dependent upon the disabling condition.
• If your documentation does not address your current level of functioning, a re-evaluation may be required.

Questions

If you have any questions, call the Special Services Center at 618-235-2700, extension 5368 or TDD at 618-234-3347 for all campuses. Check with the Special Services Center to make sure you have current Documentation Guidelines.