What is Appropriate Documentation
Appropriate academic adjustments/accommodations are determined for each student on an individual basis by Center for Disability Services (CDS) staff and are based on disability documentation. Students of disability requesting services through CDS are required to provide documentation from a qualified professional that:
- Verifies the existence of the disabling condition
- Discusses the functional limitation
- Describes the affect of the disability has on the individual’s ability to access the educational process.
Below is a more detail outline of the specific needs based on type of disability. For help in providing appropriate documentation view the
CWU Disability Verification Forms.
Written statement from a "qualified medical professional" 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 medications prescribed and the side effects of these medications (if needed for identification of appropriate accommodations.)
Audiogram and audiology report from a "qualified medical professional" that includes:
- Information about the extent of the hearing loss and prescribed adaptive equipment (hearing aids, FM system, etc.).
- Audiology report must include the diagnosing professional's interpretation of the audiogram.
Results of visual examination from a "qualified medical professional" which includes correctable visual acuity and the diagnosing professional's interpretation of examination results are required.
A copy of a public school diagnostic testing record or the result of psycho educational tests administered by a qualified psychologist or educational diagnostician is required. Documentation must be current and must include:
- One instrument which measures aptitude (such as the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised).
- One instrument which measures achievement (such as the Woodcock-Johnson Psycho educational Battery-Revised).
- Clear evidence of the diagnosis.
- A written interpretation of the test results (including the specific academic areas affected).
- The name and qualifications of the diagnosing professional.
A single test and/or an informal screening instrument (such as Slingerland) are not acceptable for the purpose of diagnosis. Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) and/or 504 plans are not sufficient for the purpose of documentation.
Statement from a "qualified professional" (physician, psychologist, or psychiatrist) which confirms a diagnosis of ADHD.
- Identifies the ADHD subtype (e.g., inattentive, hyperactive, combined) and/or provides the DSM diagnostic classification.
- Provides information about the student's functional limitations in an educational setting and medications prescribed/side effects of those medications (if needed for identification of appropriate accommodations).
- DSM diagnostic criteria must be met.
Written statement from a "qualified medical professional" (i.e., psychologist, psychiatrist) 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 has on the student's ability to access the educational process.
- Information about what, if any, medications are prescribed and the side effects of those medications, (if needed for identification of appropriate accommodations).
