The University of Mississippi's Office of Student Disability Services
DOCUMENTATION GUIDELINES FOR PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS
(Revised 03/2002)
To ensure the provision of reasonable and appropriate classroom accommodations, students requesting accommodations must provide documentation of an impairment or disorder which supports their requests. 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 report 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 guidelines are as follows:
1. Documentation must be completed by a licensed professional who is qualified to evaluate and diagnose psychiatric disorders. The name, title and licensure or certification number of the evaluating 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, and because of the fluctuating nature of psychiatric disorders, it is necessary that the documentation submitted specify the student's current functioning. Documentation should be current within one (1) year.
3. The following information MUST be included, if applicable, in all documentation submitted:
a. Specific Diagnosis(es) - Documentation must clearly state the student's specific DSM-IV diagnosis(es) with diagnostic code(s). In addition, a full list of all criteria that the student meets for the diagnosis(es) should also be included.
b. Diagnostic Interview/Historical Information - The summary of the diagnostic interview should include, but is not limited to, the following information: a history of the presenting symptoms; the duration and severity of the disorder; any relevant developmental, historical, and familial data; and any relevant medical history.
c. Medication History - Documentation should include details regarding the student's current medication regime, if any; compliance with medication treatment plan; side effects, if relevant; and the student's response to the medication.
d. Functional Limitations - A detailed list of current functional limitations must be included with the documentation. In order to appropriately accommodate the student, we need to know the IMPACT of the disorder and how the student is limited by the effects of the disorder. 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.
e. Recommendations for Academic Accommodations - All documentation must include the diagnosing professionals 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
234 Martindale Center
University, MS 38677
Phone: (662) 915-7128
Fax: (662) 915-5972
Back to Documentation Guidelines