Documenting a Disability

Professional Documentation

Documentation should be prepared by an appropriate professional who is not a family member. Documentation should be recent, relevant, comprehensive, and where appropriate, should contain test scores and interpretation. Recent documentation is the most useful in assessing which types of academic support will be most helpful to students in their current academic pursuits.

If the original documentation is incomplete or inadequate to determine the extent of the disability or reasonable accommodations, the University has the discretion to require additional documentation. Any cost incurred in obtaining additional or initial documentation is borne by the student.

Guidelines for Documentation

In evaluating requests for accommodations, the University will need documentation that consists of an evaluation by an appropriate professional, on letterhead, which describes the current impact of the disability. It should include all of following:

• A diagnostic statement identifying the disability, the original date of diagnosis, and the date of the most current diagnostic evaluation.
• A description of the diagnostic tests, methods, and/or criteria used to reach the diagnosis.
• A description of the current functional impact of the disability in the individual’s life, supported by test results and the examiner’s narrative interpretation.
• Treatments, medications, or assistive devices/services currently prescribed or in use.
• A description of the expected progression or stability of the impact of the disability over time, particularly the next five years.

The evaluation, on the letterhead of an appropriate professional, and addressing each of the listed guidelines may be emailed or faxed to the addresses listed below. For information about our documentation policy, please review the Student Disability Policy and information about Documenting a Disability.

Failure to register a disability with the Student Disability office in a timely manner will lead to delays in receiving services.

To email documentation:
sds@mtu.edu

To fax documentation:
906-487-3530, Attention Dr. Oslund

While we will review IEP/504 Plans, these tend not to be as helpful in assisting students as actual diagnostic test results with interpretations from medical specialists.

If you have further questions, please call us at 906-487–3558.