The Office of Disability Support Services (DSS) uses a comprehensive approach to determine eligibility for accommodations, incorporating several sources of information:

  1. The self-report of the student gathered through the Accessibility Request Form.
  2. Documentation from a qualified professional (Provider) who can confirm the current diagnosis and provide sufficient details on its impact to one or more major life functions (including academic pursuits).
  3. Documentation which provides a historical perspective of previously received accommodations, educational programming, or academic background.
  4. Information shared by the student during the Interactive Process Meeting, in discussion with a DSS professional staff member. 

Accommodation recommendations must be logically related to the student's functional limitations based on data and evidence, as determined through the knowledge and expertise of DSS professional staff. All information is reviewed carefully, and through the interactive process meeting, appropriate accommodations are determined.

  • What Determines a Qualified Provider? (click to expand)

    • A provider must have comprehensive training and experience in the relevant specialty and hold appropriate licensure and/or certification
    • A provider should have 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
    • Providers may be members of a student’s high school education team who have conducted assessments and completed a comprehensive report of findings
    • Generally, documentation of a diagnosis from a pediatrician is not sufficient without additional supporting documentation


Documentation


The student should obtain from their provider(s) and submit to DSS through the Accommodate portal the following: 
  • A completed copy of the Clinical Care Provider Form and/or
  • A letter or report on official letterhead (letter must include all information requested on the Clinician Form) and/or
  • Prior evaluations, completed by their school district or private provider preferably within the last three years using adult-normed assessments

The student may also submit to  DSS:

  • An Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) or 504 plan from a previous educational setting. This documentation may stand on its own if:
    • 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.
    • The document is current within three years. 

PLEASE NOTE: 

  1. Documents can only be uploaded in .doc, .docx, or PDF format. If you are submitting multiple pictures of a multi-page document, please combine them into one file before submitting.
  2. Submitting evidence of a diagnosis alone may not meet the standard of a disabling condition or be sufficient to warrant accommodations.
  3. A student may be asked to submit additional documentation related to the current impact of functional limitations on academic and other life activities if further information is required to make an accommodation determination. However, gathering comprehensive documentation should not be a barrier to a student seeking support from DSS.  

 

For each type of accommodations request, please note the specific documentation requested:

  • Housing Accommodations

    • Documentation that demonstrates the substantial barriers presented by a communal, shared living environment
    • Documentation that provides details about substantial functional limitations to major life activities that may impact their full participation in an on-campus housing program
     

  • Dining Accommodations

    • Documentation that shows substantial barriers presented by a communal dining experience
    • Documentation that clarifies the substantial functional limitations to major life activities or health functions that may impact their participation in a meal plan program
    • For Allergies: a comprehensive food allergy test report and the clinician's interpretation of the report
    • For Special Diets: a comprehensive list of foods/ingredients that they must avoid and a list of foods/ingredients that they should consume to adhere to the parameters of a specified diet
     

  • Foreign Language Substitution

    • Neuropsychological or psychoeducational report, which delineates skill deficites which impact on the ability to learn a foreign language, such as the following assessments:
      • Woodcock Johnson Test of Achievement and Language
      • Comprehensive Tests of Phonological Processing
      • Test of Adolescent and Adult Language
      • Wechsler Individual Achievement Test
    • Documentation to verify the diagnosis of a disability which specifically impacts the ability to learn a foreign language, such as hearing impairment
       

  • Emotional Support Animals

    Students must submit supporting documentation from a licensed, treating health care or mental health provider (the “Treating Provider”).

    The Treating Provider must be reliable and qualified to make the requested assessment and must submit a signed letter on professional letterhead, including their name, title, professional credentials, address, phone number, signature, and date of the report, which states at least the following:

    • the Treating Provider’s current, comprehensive diagnosis,
    • the Treating Provider’s opinion of the impact of the Owner’s disability or condition on a major life activity,
    • the Treating Provider’s opinion concerning the necessity of the Emotional Support Animal for the Owner to use or enjoy campus housing,
    • The Treating Provider’s assessment of the relationship between the Owner’s disability and the relief the assistance animal provides.

    Please Note:

    • The Treating Provider must specialize in a field consistent with the diagnosis, as well as be familiar with the student and their disability. 
    • The Treating Provider cannot be a family member.
    • It is strongly recommended that the Owner submit all required materials to DSS prior to the deadline to submit a housing application for the following semester.

     

    Click here to learn more about the ESA guidelines.

  

Updated August 2025