As appropriate to the disability, documentation should include:
- A diagnostic statement identifying the disability, date of the current diagnostic evaluation, and the date of the original diagnosis.
- Under Federal law, a “disability” is a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. An individual with a disability is a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more life activities, a person who has a history or record of such impairment, or a person who is perceived as having such impairment.
- The diagnostic systems used by the Department of Education, the State Department of Rehabilitative Services or other State agencies and/or the current editions of either the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association (DSM) or the International Statistical C.L.A.S.S.ification of Diseases and Related Health Problems of the World Health Organization (ICD) are the recommended diagnostic taxonomies.
- A description of the diagnostic criteria and or diagnostic test used.
- This description should delineate the specific results of diagnostic procedures, diagnostic tests utilized, and date administered. When available, both summary and specific test scores should be reported.
- Diagnostic methods used should be congruent with the disability and current professional practices within the field. Informal or non-standardized evaluations should be described in sufficient detail so a professional colleague could clearly understand their role and significance in the diagnostic process.
- A description of the current functional impact of the disability.
- The current functional impact on physical, perceptual, cognitive, and behavioral abilities should be described either explicitly or through the provision of specific results from the diagnostic procedures. Information is considered to be current when it provides a clear picture of the individual’s present functional levels. The information provided will be used to assess and determine appropriate accommodations. Since a state of “currency” may be fluid in light of the nature of a disability, the evaluation will be predicated upon the typical progression of the specific disability, its interaction with development across the life span, the presence or absence of significant events (since the date of the evaluation) that might impact functioning, and the relevance of information to the current the request for accommodations.
- Treatments, medications, assistive devices/services currently prescribed or in use.
- The documentation must include a description of current treatments, medications, assistive devices, accommodations and/or assistive services and their estimated effectiveness in mitigating the impact of the disability. Significant side affects or interaction concerns that may impact physical, perceptual, behavioral, or cognitive performance must also be noted.
- A description of the expected progression or stability of the impact of the disability over time.
- This description should provide an estimate of the change in the functional limitations of the disability over time and/or recommendations concerning the predictable needs for reevaluation.
- The credentials of the diagnosing professional(s).
- Information describing the certification, licensure, and/or the professional training of individuals conducting the evaluation should be provided.
- Ancillary support recommendations.
- The reporting professional’s recommendations for accommodations, adaptive devices, assistive services, compensatory strategies, and/or collateral support services will be considered based upon the diagnostic evaluation report. This may include collateral medical, psychological, and/or educational support services or training.
- Recommendations from professionals with a history of working with the individual contribute valuable information to the review process. They will be included in the evaluation of requests for accommodations. Recommendations congruent with the programs, services, and benefits offered by the College will be given consideration. When recommendations extend beyond services and benefits provided by the College, they may be used to suggest potential referrals to outside area service providers.
