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Students requesting accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 must provide documentation of a diagnosed psychiatric/emotional disability that substantially limits a major life activity. Documentation and recommendations must be appropriate to the postsecondary setting. The report must describe the current impact of the psychiatric/emotional disability on the student's academic performance.
Accommodations are individually determined each semester. Once the Ross Center receives documentation, it is the student's responsibility to make an appointment with the Ross Center to discuss eligibility and receive accommodations that semester.
Confidentiality Statement
Ross Center for Disability Services will not release any information at any point in the disability accommodation process regarding an individual’s diagnosis or medical information without his or her informed written consent or under compulsion of legal process. Information will be released only on a “need to know” basis, except where otherwise required by law. All documentation will be stored in a secure place.
Assessment
The assessment of the psychiatric/emotional disability must be current, valid, and comprehensive. The evaluation must be completed by a qualified medical professional (medical doctor, psychiatrist, licensed psychologist) who has experience with adults with psychiatric/emotional disorders. It is preferable that documentation has been carried out during the past three years, but additional documentation may be requested based upon the current status of the student and his/her request . The medical report should specifically state the diagnosis and functional limitations and signed by the professional making the diagnosis. All documentation is confidential and is on file only at the RCDS.
If the disability is progressive, or if the student experiences any change in severity of symptoms that would affect academic accommodations, the student must provide updated documentation that reflects the change in status.
If the student is unsure of the documentation needed, the student needs to contact the RCDS.
Psychiatric disabilities may include but are not limited to: Depressive, Bipolar, Psychotic, Schizophrenic, Schizoaffective, Post-Traumatic Stress and Disassociative Disorders. A psychologist, psychiatrist, neuropsychologist or licensed clinical social worker may provide information regarding diagnosis and treatment of students with psychiatric/emotional disabilities.
Recommended documentation
should include:
- A
specific diagnosis using DSM-IV (code in 5 axes)
- A
review of pertinent history and the date of first diagnosis
- A
description of the current symptoms, fluctuating conditions/symptoms,
and prognosis
- The
assessment procedures used to make the psychiatric diagnosis
- Medical
information that may be important to consider in a university
environment are medication, whether there
are side effects of the prescribed medication, whether the
student is still adjusting to the medication, and comment
on the student's compliance history. State whether there
are crisis episodes associated with the disability.
- Substantial
limitations to the student's major life activities as
indicated by the evaluation
- Suggestions
of reasonable accommodations that might be appropriate at
the postsecondary level. These recommendations
should be supported by the diagnosis. Please note that Disability
Services will make the final determination of eligibility
for accommodations.
***
Note that submission of documentation is not the same as the
request for services. You still must complete the Service
Request Form. The RCDS cannot support any accommodation requests
until the documentation is complete.
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