Documentation Guidelines

 Office for Students
with Disabilities

at Florida Atlantic University

WELCOME

Welcome to the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) at Florida Atlantic University (FAU).  The mission of the OSD is to support students with disabilities in their pursuit of equity and excellence in education.  The OSD works with FAU faculty and staff to ensure that reasonable accommodations are provided to allow this population of students an equal opportunity to learn in the classroom setting and to have access to all areas of FAU campuses.
                       
To be eligible for services at the OSD, a student must satisfy the definition of a disability as established by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.  Both the ADA and Section 504 define a disability as a condition which substantially limits at least one major life activity such as walking, seeing, speaking, hearing, breathing, learning, caring for oneself, and interacting with others.  To be eligible for accommodations, a student must provide appropriate documentation of each disability that demonstrates an accompanying substantial limitation to one or more  major life activities.

In applying for support services, the student with a disability must provide the OSD with appropriate written documentation from a licensed professional in the field concerning the specific diagnosis and expected academic limitations.  The submission of appropriate documentation is just one step in the process of registering for support services with the OSD.           

• The following guidelines are provided in the interest of ensuring that the professional’s statement is appropriate to document eligibility for support services.  If the OSD  determines that the presented documentation is out-dated, incomplete, or vague, the student must provide appropriate documentation demonstrating the current existence of a disability before support services can be activated.
  

BASIC DOCUMENTATION GUIDELINES

• Diagnostic reports must be on letterhead paper and include the diagnostician’s name, title, professional credentials, date(s), and signature.
• Licensure/certification information, area of specialization, and province or state of employment must  be included.
• Professionals conducting the assessment must be qualified to do so. It is essential that they have experience in working with an adult population.
• Assessments must utilize an adult scale.
• The specific diagnosis of the disability must be  clearly stated and explained (not vague, nonspecific, or inconclusive).
• Current symptoms meeting diagnostic criteria must be addressed and appropriate testing results with interpretation must be included.
• The diagnostic report must specify the current degree of functional loss and/or the functional limitations of the disability.
• The diagnostic report must include anticipated effects of the functional limitations within the academic setting.
• The diagnostic report must include suggested recommendations for accommodations or auxiliary aids for the student, including information about the conditions under which they might be used.
• If medications are taken, these should be listed as well as their potential side effects.

The report must be based on evaluation completed within the last 1 to 3 years, depending on the disability.  However, the OSD reserves the right to make modifications to this time frame.

DOCTOR’S PRESCRIPTION PAD NOTES
WON’T BE ACCEPTED!!!

ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION GUIDELINES FOR...

AAttention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorders

• Documentation must be in the form of a written report based on a psychological evaluation.
• The following four criteria must be addressed:
  1. Reported history of AD/HD symptoms demonstrated during childhood, including interview and two AD/HD behavioral rating scales.
  2. Corroboration of current AD/HD symptoms across multiple settings.
  3. Standardized measures of attention (TOVA, IVA, TEA) or psychological evaluation.
  4. Exclusion of  differential diagnoses.
• Diagnosis must be made by a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist.

Asperger’s/High Functioning Autism

1. Documentation must be in the form of a psychological evaluation including tests of information processing, aptitude, and academic achievement.
2. Behavioral, social, and communication issues must be addressed.  
3. Diagnosis must be made by a licensed psychologist.             

Deaf/Hard of Hearing

• Documentation must be in the form of either a medical report or practitioner’s letter.  Additionally, an audiological report must be submitted.
• Diagnosis must be made by an audiologist or other practitioner qualified to make this diagnosis.

Learning Disabilities

• Documentation must be in the form of a written report based on a psycho-educational evaluation.
• Results must demonstrate a significant discrepancy between aptitude and achievement.
• Domains to be addressed: standardized measures of aptitude, achievement, information processing, and communication skills.
• A specific learning disability must be clearly diagnosed utilizing the American  Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) codes.
• Diagnosis must be made by a licensed psychologist.

Medical Impairments & Physical Impairments

• Documentation must be in the form of either a medical report or practitioner’s letter.
• Diagnosis must be made by a practitioner qualified to make this diagnosis.

Psychological Impairments 

• Documentation must be in the form of a psychological, psychiatric or neuropsychological report, based on evaluation within the past year.
• There must be a specific diagnosis which is consistent with the diagnostic criteria found in the (DSM).
• Diagnosis must be made by a licensed psychologist, psychiatrist, or other practitioner qualified to make this diagnosis.        

Psychological Impairments

• Documentation must be in the form of a psychological, psychiatric or a neuropsychological report, based on the evaluation within the past year.
• There must be a specific diagnosis which is consistent with the diagnostic criteria found in the (DSM).
• Diagnosis must be made by a licensed psychologist, psychiatrist, or other practitioner qualified to make this diagnosis.

Speech Impairments

• Documentation must be in the form of either a medical report or practitioner’s letter.
• Diagnosis must be made by a speech pathologist or other practitioner qualified to make this diagnosis.     
  

Traumatic Brain Injuries

• Documentation must be in the form of a neuropsychological evaluation.
• If injury is less than 3 years old, evaluation must have been performed within the past year.  For older injuries, evaluation must have been performed within the past 3 years.
• Diagnosis must be made by a licensed psychologist or neuropsychologist.         

Visual Impairments & Blindness 

• Documentation must  be in the form of either a medical report or practitioner’s letter.
• Diagnosis must be made by an ophthalmologist, optometrist or other  practitioner qualified to make this diagnosis.

Note: Professors will be notified of the student’s approved accommodations in an OSD Letter of Notification presented by the student. If the student is not registered with the OSD, please refer her/him to the office.

Boca Raton Campus:
777 Glades Road, SU Room 133
Boca Raton, FL 33431
tel: 561.297.3880     fax: 561.297.2184
tty: 561.297.0358

Broward Campuses:
2912 College Avenue, LA Room 240
Davie, FL 33314
tel: 954.236.1222      fax: 954.236.1123

Jupiter Campus:
(Diversity Student Services)
5353 Parkside Drive, SR Room 117
Jupiter, FL 33458
tel: 561.799.8585     fax: 561.799.8721
tty: 561.799.8565

Treasure Coast Campus:
500 NW California Blvd., JU Room 312
Port St. Lucie, FL 34986
tel: 772.873.3441     fax: 772.873.3444

Website address: http://osd.fau.edu

Alternate format available upon request

Rev 05/09