The University of Mississippi's Office of Student Disability Services
DOCUMENTATION GUIDELINES FOR PHYSICAL DISORDERS
(Revised 03/2002)
To ensure the provision of reasonable and appropriate classroom accommodations, students requesting such must provide documentation of an impairment or disorder which supports the request. This documentation should identify a significant limitation concerning the conditions, manner or duration of time required by the student to complete or participate in a major life activity. The limitations must rise to the level of being disabling. Accommodations are provided based on the impact of a disorder, not only on the diagnosis of a disorder. In addition, documentation should identify the student's specific strengths and weaknesses and address how the student's disorder or impairment interferes with educational achievement. Appropriate and reasonable accommodations will be determined from the specific information provided and from interviews with the student.
Documentation requirements are as follows:
1. Documentation must be completed by a licensed healthcare professional. The name, title and licensure or certification number of the healthcare professional writing the report should be included. In addition, all reports should be typed or printed on professional letterhead, dated, and signed.
2. Documentation must be CURRENT. Because reasonable accommodations are based on the current impact of a disorder or impairment, it is necessary that the documentation submitted specify the student's current functioning. Currency of documentation will be determined by the nature of the disorder.
3.
The following information MUST be included, if applicable, in all documentation
submitted:
a. Specific Diagnosis - Documentation should clearly state the student's specific diagnosis(es).
b. Prognosis - Documentation should specify the student's prognosis. In particular it will be helpful for us to know if the condition is temporary, stable, progressive, or if it will fluctuate over time, as is the case with some chronic illnesses.
c. Functional Limitations - A detailed list of functional limitations should be included with the documentation. In order to appropriately accommodate the student, we need to know the IMPACT of the disorder or impairment and how the student is limited by the effects of the disorder or impairment. In addition, it will be helpful for us to know how the student is impacted in an educational setting. The more detailed the information we receive regarding functional limitations, the more able we are to provide reasonable and appropriate accommodations.
d. Recommendations for Academic Accommodations - All documentation must include the diagnosing professional's recommendations for academic accommodations, if any. Recommendations should include supporting rationale which links the recommended accommodation to the functional limitations of the student.
Please do not hesitate to contact us should you have questions or require additional information:
Office of
Student Disability Services
The University of Mississippi
P.O. Box 1848
University, MS 38677
Phone: (662) 915-7128
Fax: (662) 915-5972
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