Our office will determine eligibility and appropriate accommodations, case by case, based on quality, recency and completeness of the documentation submitted. Quality documentation provides the evidence needed for the decision-maker to clearly understand the impact of the disability in a post-secondary environment in order to determine appropriate accommodations.

Definitions and guidelines

The following definitions and documentation guidelines provide students and professionals with a common understanding of the components of documentation that are necessary to establish the need for accommodations in accordance of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities act of 1990, as amended.

Credentials of the evaluator(s)

Formal documentation is provided by an appropriate, qualified professional. The professional's name, title, credentials and affiliation should be provided. The professional should have no personal relationship with the student.

Diagnostic statement identifying the disability

The documentation must include a clear diagnostic statement that describes how the condition was diagnosed, provide information on the functional impact and detail the typical progression or prognosis of the condition.

Description of the diagnostic methodology used

The documentation must include a description of the diagnostic criteria, evaluation methods, procedures, tests and dates of administration, as well as a clinical narrative, observation and specific results. Where appropriate to the nature of the disability, providing both summary data and specific test scores within the report is necessary. Methods may include formal instruments, medical examinations, structured interviews and performance observations.

Description of the current functional limitations

The recency of documentation is critical to the establishment of the student's current functional limitations. Information on how the disabling condition(s) currently impacts the individual is useful for both establishing a disability and identifying possible accommodations. A combination of the results of formal evaluation procedures, clinical narrative and the individual's self-report is the most comprehensive approach to fully documenting impact. The best documentation is thorough enough to demonstrate the extent of how a major life activity is substantially limited by providing a clear sense of the severity, frequency and pervasiveness of the condition(s).

Description of current and past accommodations, services and/or medications

Comprehensive documentation should include a description of both current and past medications, support services, accommodations, auxiliary aids and assistive devices, including their effectiveness in mitigating functional impacts of the disability.

Recommendations for accommodations, adaptive devices, assistive services, compensatory strategies and/or collateral support services

A diagnostic report should include specific recommendations for accommodation(s). A prior history of an accommodation, without a demonstration of a current need, does not in and of itself warrant the provision of a like accommodation. Each accommodation recommended by an evaluator should include a rationale. The evaluation should support the recommendations with specific test results or clinical observations. If an accommodation is not clearly identified in the diagnostic report, the University of Kansas Medical Center will seek clarification and, if necessary, more information, and will make the final determination as to whether appropriate and reasonable accommodations are warranted and can be provided.

The University of Kansas Medical Center reserves the right to request reassessment when questions regarding previous assessment or previous service provision arise.

Questions?

For more information about academic accommodations at KU Medical Center, read our Students with Disabilities Policy or contact Academic Accommodation Services via email, ada-kumc@kumc.edu or call 913-945-7035.