AD/HD
Guidelines for Documentation of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD)
Furman University is committed to ensuring equal access for
persons with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA). Students who wish to obtain accommodations for
a disability must submit documentation of the disability to the
Disability Services office. It is the responsibility of the student
with a disability to obtain and pay for this documentation.
The purpose of the documentation is twofold. First, it must
establish that the student is a person with a disability. The
documentation must also provide a rationale for authorizing reasonable
accommodations. The purpose of accommodations is to allow equal access
for the student with a disability.
Accommodations should be appropriate to a student’s current level of
functioning. In general, the evaluation should be conducted within
three years of the date of request for services. Exceptions may be
made in the case of a disability of a permanent and unchanging nature.
If the disability is less stable, more frequent updates may be
required. Although the underlying processes involved in AD/HD may be
life long, there may be changes in functioning within an academic
setting over time. As a general rule, it is appropriate to re-evaluate
these conditions periodically in order to adjust the accommodations to
current needs.
Documentation for AD/HD should consist of a written statement,
evaluation report, or a detailed letter from a licensed psychologist or
physician who diagnosed the disorder and/or is responsible for
treatment of the disorder. The written statement must comply with the
guidelines described below. Please note that an Individualized
Education Plan (IEP) does not generally provide enough information to
meet these documentation guidelines. It will be accepted as
supplemental information.
Students who are requesting more than minimal accommodations for
AD/HD must follow the university’s guidelines for learning
disabilities. Minimal accommodations are defined as extended time (up
to time-and-a-half) for tests, option to take tests in a
low-distraction environment, and note-taking assistance.
Criteria for Documentation of AD/HD
Documentation should:
- reflect the student’s current level of functioning and should generally be less than three years old.
- be provided by a licensed psychologist or physician who is
qualified to diagnose AD/HD. The practitioner should not be
related to the person being evaluated.
- be typed on letterhead, dated, and signed by the evaluator.
Documentation on prescription pads will not be accepted.
- include a clearly stated diagnosis of the disabling
condition, the date of diagnosis, and the date of most recent
contact with the individual.
- include a description of observed symptoms that meet the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for AD/HD.
- present the individual’s history of AD/HD, including any history of previous accommodations.
- include a clear description of the limitations in academic
functioning resulting from AD/HD, as well as a description of the
impact of medications or other treatments prescribed.
- include recommendations concerning accommodations needed in an academic setting.
All documentation should be sent to:
Disability Services
Furman University
3300 Poinsett Highway
Greenville, SC 29613
Phone: 864-294-2322
Fax: 864-294-3044
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