Documentation: What Is It? When Is It Required? Why Should I Consider Assessment or Reassessment?

What is Documentation?

Documentation is the report that is generated by the professional who has diagnosed an individual’s disability. It provides the official basis of the student’s claim that he or she is a person with a disabling condition.

The law allows the university to request this documentation when the student requests accommodations. However, at Empire State University, proof of a disability is not required for most accommodation requests. Typical accommodations include requests for extended time, note taker support for residencies and study groups and sign language interpreters, among others.

The following accommodations require documentation:

• ADA Part-Time TAP and Excelsior Scholarship eligibility
• alternatively formatted textbooks, i.e., e-text from the publishers

In addition, the office may determine that more information is needed when reviewing your request for accommodations.

The office will request that you forward documentation of your disability to process the request.

If you have not been diagnosed with a disabling condition and suspect you have one, or if your current documentation is old, you may want to be (re)tested for the presence of a disability.

• While Empire State University does not require documentation of a disability for most accommodation requests, proof of a disability may be required for certain accommodation requests at other institutions, by future employers or for participation in a specialized program for individuals with disabilities.
• The law does not require the university to identify and evaluate students who may have disabilities; nor does it require the university to compensate students for money spent on testing for the presence of a disability. It is the student's responsibility to determine whether a disability is present.

Acceptable Documentation Guidelines

When requested, students must submit documentation that meets the following criteria:

• is prepared by an individual qualified to make the diagnosis and includes the diagnostician’s credentials
• includes the manner used to evaluate the student, including any standardized testing measures and scores obtained
• provides a diagnosis
• discusses the diagnosis and the student’s ability to perform major life activities
• recommends reasonable accommodations.

Return to Student Handbook or continue to Recordkeeping and Confidentiality.