Physical Disabilities
Guidelines for Documentation of Physical Disabilities
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.
Documentation for a physical disability must meet the following
criteria. 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.
Criteria for Documentation of Physical Disabilities
- Documentation should reflect the student’s current level of
functioning and should generally be less than three years old.
- Documentation should be provided by a licensed professional
who is qualified to diagnose the type of condition for which
accommodation is being requested. The practitioner should not be
related to the person being evaluated.
- Reports should be typed on letterhead, dated, and signed by
the evaluator. Documentation on prescription pads will not be
accepted.
- Documentation must include a clearly stated diagnosis of the disabling condition.
- Documentation must include a detailed description of the tests or procedures used to establish the diagnosis.
- Documentation must include a clear description of the
functional limitations resulting from the disabling condition, as
well as a description of the impact of medications or other
treatments prescribed.
- Documentation should include recommendations concerning
accommodations needed in the classroom and the broader college
environment.
All documentation should be sent to:
Disability Services
Furman University
3300 Poinsett Highway
Greenville, SC 29613-5951
Phone: 864-294-2322
Fax: 864-294-3044
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