Documenting Disability
Student Responsibilities
- Providing adequate documentation of disability to Disability Support
Services.
- Making contact with Disability Support Services to request that an accommodation
plan be prepared and to receive information about the required* DSS Intake
meeting. *To establish eligibility to utilize academic accommodations, CWU students with
disabilities must attend a DSS Intake Meeting during which they are provided
with their individualized accommodation plan and a comprehensive review of
DSS policies and procedures.
- Requesting specific accommodations from DSS and/or individual professors. For
classroom accommodations, the student must:
- meet personally with each professorand provide a copy of his/her
Confirmation of Eligibility for Academic Adjustments,
- request needed accommodation(s), and,
- work with each professor to determine the best method of providing
accommodation(s) in specific situations/classes.
- Honoring all deadlines for accommodation requests.
- Notifying the Director of Disability Support Services when/if difficulties arise.
Disability Support Services Responsibilities
- Reviewing and interpreting documentation of disability.
- Assessing accommodation needs.
- Preparing the "Confirmation of Eligibility for Academic Adjustments".
- Explaining DSS policies and procedures.
- Upon request, helping the student and/or professor refine or establish accommodation(s).
Faculty Responsibilities
- Ensuring that students with disabilities have equal access to their classes, field trips, and meetings by honoring student requests for reasonable accommodation.
- Conferring with students to determine the best methods for
providing accommodation(s) in specific situations/classes.
- Consulting Disability Support Services if/when questions about accommodation(s) arise.
Report Guidelines for Documenting Professional
The documenting professional is responsible for providing a written report which:
- Clearly identifies the diagnosis, or diagnoses, (DSM diagnosis if applicable).
- Provides the names of the tests used in the assessment process and the sub-test scores.
- Provides a clear interpretation of the test results.
- Identifies the functional limitations caused by the disability/disabilities.
- Includes the date and signature of the documenting professional.
Note: It is important for documenting professionals to understand that any documentation they submit or the student submits becomes an educational record under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA). The document is kept in strict confidence in the Disability Support Services Office and is not released to anyone without the written consent of the student (your client.) FERPA does require that Central Washington University allow the student to see his/her records and the student may request a copy of his/her records.
Procedures to Become Eligible
Prospective students can get their questions about eligibility answered in these ways:
- Make an appointment to meet with a Disability Support Services staff member
- Call us at (509) 963-2171
- Consult with us by e-mail - hardenr@cwu.edu (Rob Harden, Director of DSS, ADA
Compliance Officer), dahlberc@cwu.edu (Connie Dahlberg, Office Manager), wilsonp@cwu.edu (Pam Wilson, Associate Director), campian@cwu.edu (Ian Campbell, Coordinator
for Adaptive Technology Services).
In order to utilize disability accommodations at CVVU, admitted students need to:
- Self-identify to DSS
- Provide written documentation of disability from a "qualified medical professional"
- Attend a DSS Intake Meeting (Intake Meetings are held on the day prior to the
first day of class each quarter and once every week to two weeks following
schedule change period throughout the academic year. Intake Meetings held while
classes are in session are scheduled according to the class schedules of students/participants.).
During Intake students learn,
- what specific accommodations/academic adjustments are supported by their documentation and included in their accommodation plans,
- the procedures necessary to establish these accommodations, and,
- their rights and responsibilities in this process.
During Intake students receive,
- a copy of their "Confirmation of Eligibility for Academic Adjustments" which they will use to notify CWU faculty of the need for accommodations,
- written policies and procedures for establishment of specific accommodations, and,
- our best advice on how to work within the system for the best results.
Documentation Required to Become Eligible for Service
Documentation of your disability must be generated by a medical or professional expert in the related field of disability and submitted in writing to Disability Support Services where it will be kept in a separate, confidential file. Please review the section below for information on documenting specific types of disabilities. If you have questions about documentation, please call the DSS office.
Documentation for physical disability must include:
Written statement from a "qualified medical professional" (a medical doctor) which includes:
- a description of the "nature and extent" of the
disability/disabilities
- information about what tests and/or records were used to make the diagnosis
- information about what affect the disability/disabilities has/have on the student's ability to access the educational process, and any limitations or special needs which should be addressed in the housing placement process
- information about what, if any, medications are prescribed and what side effects these medications might have, if appropriate.
Documentation for auditory/hearing impairment must include:
Audiology report from a "qualified medical professional" (Certified Otologist or Audiologist) which includes information about the extent of the hearing loss and prescribed adaptive equipment (hearing aids, FM system, etc.) If recommendations for accommodation are not included, CVVU consults an audiologist for interpretation.
Documentation for visual impairment must include:
Results of visual examination from a "qualified medical professional" (Ophthalmologist) which includes correctable visual acuity.
Documentation for learning disability must include:
Results of psychoeducational tests administered by a qualified psychologist or
educational diagnostician. Minimally, documentation must include one test which
assesses aptitude/IQ and one test which assesses achievement/performance. Diagnostic
testing must be recent and/or administered at an "adult level". Diagnostic
testing done prior to high school may not be considered adequate. The diagnostic
report must contain:
- the specific instruments used for assessment
- sub-test results
- a written interpretation of the test results which includes diagnosis and areas of "severe discrepancy", and
- the name and signature of the evaluator and dates of testing
Documentation for Attention Deficit/Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder must include:
A statement from a "qualified professional" (physician, psychologist, or psychiatrist) which confirms DSMIV-TR diagnosis
of ADHD including the sub-type, identifies the tests and methods used to make
the diagnosis and
provides
information about
the severity of the condition, medications prescribed and the side effects
of those medications, if appropriate.
Documentation of psychological disability must include:
Written statement from a "qualified medical professional" ( i.e. psychologist, psychiatrist or qualifed MD) which includes:
- a description of the "nature and extent" of the
disability/disabilities
- information about what tests and/or records were used to make the diagnosis
- information about what affect the disability/disabilities has/have on the student's ability to access the educational process
- information about what, if any, medications are prescribed and the side effects these medications, if appropriate.
Procedures to Follow Once Found Eligible
At CWU, students with disabilities are empowered with the right to
choose if, when and how accommodations will be utilized. Once eligibility is
established, an accommodation plan prepared and the Intake process completed,
students may decide on a case-by-case basis whether or not they would like
to request specific accommodations. When the student decides that he/she needs
a classroom accommodation or accommodations, he/she must schedule an appointment
to meet with the professor of the course in which accommodation(s) is/are required.
During this meeting the student must:
- Present the professor with a copy of the Confirmation of Eligibility for Academic Adjustments which verifies registration with DSS and identifies appropriate accommodations.
- Request the specific accommodations needed.
- Discuss the method by which the accommodations will be provided and how the professor can assist in this process. This discussion is essential. If this discussion between the professor and the student does not occur, the professor will not be informed of his/her role in the provision of accommodations and the student will not be protected under Federal and/or state disability laws.
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