Guidelines for Documentation of Psychiatric or Psychological Disability

Students who desire accommodations from the Office of Student Disability Services on the basis on a psychiatric or psychological disability are required to submit documentation to verify need and eligibility under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). Protection under these civil rights statutes is based on documentation of a disability that substantially limits one or more major life activities. A diagnosis of a disorder/condition/syndrome in and of itself does not automatically qualify an individual for accommodations under the ADA.

A specific diagnosis by a licensed mental health professional including a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), licensed professional counselor (LPC), psychologist, psychiatrist or neurologist is required. The diagnostician should be an impartial individual who is not a family member of the student.

Since Christian Brothers University's goal is to provide reasonable and appropriate support services for students with disabilities, students are required to provide current and comprehensive documentation of their disability justifying a need for accommodation.

The following guidelines are provided to assure that documentation is appropriate to verify eligibility and is supportive of requests for reasonable accommodations, academic adjustments, and/or auxiliary aids on the basis of a diagnosed psychiatric or psychological disorder. Recommended documentation should include:

1. A clear statement of disability, including the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR) diagnosis.
2. A summary of current symptoms that satisfy the DSM-IV-TR criteria and the approximate date of onset.
3. A summary of historical information, diagnostic interview, and assessment procedures/ evaluation instruments used to make the diagnosis. A summary of evaluation results, including standardized or percentile scores, should also be included.
4. Medical information relating to the student's needs, to include current treatments and the impact of medication on the student's ability to meet the demands of the post secondary environment.
5. Statement of impact and limitations of the disorder on the student's academic performance.
6. Recommendations for reasonable accommodations and support services that are appropriate for the post secondary level. Each recommended accommodation must include a rationale and should be supported by the diagnosis.
7. Current documentation, preferably within the last year. Due to the nature of psychological and psychiatric disorders, updated reports may be requested.
8. The name, title, and professional credentials of the evaluator. Information about license or certification as well as the area of specialization, employment, and state or province in which the individual practices should be clearly stated in the documentation.
9. All reports should be on letterhead, typed, dated, signed, and otherwise legible.

Further assessment and/or documentation by an appropriate professional may be required if co-existing learning disabilities or other disabling conditions are indicated. If LD, ADHD, or physical disabilities are involved, please refer to the documentation guidelines for those specific disabilities.

Determinations of reasonable and appropriate accommodations are made by Christian Brothers University's Disability Accommodation Committee and are based on the documentation information, evaluation of the documentation by an outside professional, the student's request for accommodations, and the tasks required for the student's courses as defined by individual faculty members. Accommodations are always individually determined.