Catholic U.'s Office of Disability Support Services (DSS) takes a holistic approach in determining eligibility for accommodations, relying on three sources of information:
- The self-report of the student (gathered through the Registration form and shared by the student during the Registration meeting)
- Documentation from a clinician or qualified professional (a Provider) who can verify their diagnosis and provide sufficient details on its impact to one or more major life functions (including academic pursuits)
- The knowledge and expertise of DSS professional staff
All information is reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and accommodations are determined through an interactive process; accommodation recommendations must be logically related to the student's functional limitations based on evidence.
Qualifications to provide Documentation
- A provider with comprehensive training and experience in the relevant specialty and who holds appropriate licensure and/or certification.
- A provider with familiarity with the history and functional limitations of the student's condition(s) and ability to provide detailed information about the substantial nature and level of impairment and its impact on major life functions.
- A provider cannot be a family member, relative, or someone with a primarily personal relationship with the student or student's family.
Accepted Documentation
A provider may provide DSS with:
- A completed copy of the Clinician Form (found here).
- A letter on their official letterhead (said letter must include all information requested on the Clinician Form).
- Both the completed Clinician Form and a letter on official letterhead.
The student may provide DSS with:
- A completed Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) or 504 plan. These forms of documentation may stand on their own as long as:
- It clearly identifies a condition or disability protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and/or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
- It reflects the status of the student's current functional limitations.
- A student may be asked to submit additional documentation related to the current impact of functional limitations on academic and other life activities.
- Submitting evidence of a diagnosis alone may not meet the standard of a disabling condition or be sufficient to warrant accommodations.
DSS would like for students to present their documentation in a timely manner; however, compiling comprehensive documentation should not be a barrier to a student seeking support.
The following are examples of the types of documentation DSS seeks to make accommodation determinations:
Physical Disability, Chronic Health Impairment, or Sensory Impairment
- A letter from a medical professional verifying a disability and explaining its impact on one or more life activities.
- Medical records that include diagnosis and a signature from a clinician
- History of accommodations used in past education, work, or similar settings (e.g. IEP).
Learning Disability, ADHD, and Autism Spectrum Disorders
- The results of a comprehensive neuropsychological or psychoeducational evaluation.
- Rating scales and objective measure of symptoms related to diagnosis.
- History of accommodations used in past education, work, or similar settings (e.g. IEP).
Psychological / Mental Health Disability or Condition
- A letter from a mental health professional verifying a disability or condition and explaining its impact on one or more life activities.
- Treatment records that include diagnosis and a signature from a clinician.
- History of accommodation used in past educational, work, or similar settings (e.g. IEP).
Traumatic Brain Injuries (Including Concussions)
- Medical records that include diagnosis and a signature from a clinician.
- Information from a medical professional detailing the short-term impact of the condition and how long it is likely to persist.
- Special note for concussions -- Should the condition persist longer than anticipated, additional and updated documentation may be requested. DSS reserves the right to request additional information in order to support specific accommodations.