General Documentation Requirements

Students requesting support services and/or reasonable accommodations from Naropa University are required to submit documentation of a disabling condition to verify eligibility under the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Disability Resources’ policies. Disability is defined as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities [in condition, manner or duration].

Note to students: Submission of documentation is not the same as the request for services, although it is the first step in establishing eligibility for disability services. The student submits documentation to the Office of Disability Resources (ODR) and must initiate the request for services once confirmed at the university. Reasonable accommodations cannot be implemented without an intake session and until the student's documentation is complete. ODR is ultimately responsible for determining all reasonable accommodations based on impact of disability as supported by the documentation.

Note to evaluators: The diagnostic report must document a disability as defined by the ADA.  Disorders found in the DSM-IV are not always disabling conditions. Determining reasonable accommodations based on a disabling condition requires more extensive information that may be acceptable for treatment purposes only.

General Documentation Requirements:

• As reasonable accommodations are based on the current functional impact of the disability, documentation must be current, preferably within the last three years.
• Secondary education eligibility reports such as an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), 504 Plan, Summary of Performance (SOP), or other or previous provision of special education services may be sufficient documentation for college-level accommodations.
• This diagnostician must be an impartial individual, who is not a family member of the student, diagnostic reports should be on professional letterhead with the names, signatures, titles, and license numbers of the appropriate evaluators, as well as the dates of testing (if appropriate) and contact information. Evaluators must be licensed professionals whose training and licensure status is consistent with expertise in the disability for which they provide documentation.

Specific Documentation Guidelines

The following guidelines are provided to assist the diagnostician in providing the required information. Documentation must be submitted by a physician, neurologist, psychiatrist, or other medical specialist. Documentation should include the names, titles, professional credentials, license number, addresses, and phone numbers of the evaluators as well as the date of the report.

• A clear statement of the medical diagnosis of the disability;
• Documentation for eligibility should be current, preferably within the last three years
• A summary of assessment procedures and evaluation instruments used to make the diagnosis, including evaluation results and standardized scores if applicable;
• A description of present symptoms which meet the criteria for diagnosis;
• Medical information relating to the student's needs should include the impact of medication on the student's ability to meet the demands of the postsecondary environment;
• Suggestions of reasonable accommodations which might be appropriate at the postsecondary level are encouraged. These recommendations should be supported by the diagnosis.