(Includes but is not limited to: Mobility Impairments, Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy, Chemical Sensitivities, Spinal Cord injuries, Cancer, AIDS, Muscular Dystrophy, Spina Bifida)

Any physical disability or systemic illness is considered to be in the medical domain and requires the expertise of a physician, including a neurologist, psychiatrist, or other medical specialist with experience and expertise in the area for which accommodations are being requested. The diagnostician should be an impartial individual who is not a family member of the student.

The following guidelines are provided to assist the Disability Services Director in collaborating with each student to determine appropriate accommodations. Documentation serves as a foundation that legitimizes a student’s request for appropriate accommodations. Recommended documentation includes:

1. A clear statement of the medical diagnosis of the physical disability or systemic illness;
2. Documentation for eligibility should be current, preferably within the last three years; (the age of acceptable documentation dependant upon the disabling condition, the current status of the student and the student’s request for accommodations);
3. A summary of assessment procedures and evaluation instruments used to make the diagnosis, including evaluation results and standardized scores if applicable;
4. A description of present symptoms which meet the criteria for diagnosis;
5. Medical information relating to the student’s needs to include the impact of medication on the students’ ability to meet the demands of the post-secondary environment.

Further assessment by an appropriate professional may be required if co-existing learning disabilities or other disabling conditions are indicated. The student and the Disability Services Director collaboratively determine appropriate accommodations.