Plymouth State University is committed to achieving equal educational opportunity and full participation for students with disabilities. Assurance of this opportunity rests upon legal foundations established by federal law, specifically the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 including Section 504, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act of 2008. By federal law, a person with a disability is any person who: has a physical or mental impairment, has a record of such an impairment, or is regarded as having such an impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. We are committed to helping students to maximize their potential while helping them to develop and maintain independence through self-determination and self-advocacy. (Rights and Responsibilities of Students with Disabilities.)
Guidelines for Documenting a Disability with CAS
Documentation may include:
- student self-report;
- professional judgment;
- 3rd-party assessments/reports.
Guidelines for Documentation of a Disability
To qualify for services, a student must provide current documentation of disability as determined by a licensed physician and/or certified psychologist or other specialists (e.g., audiologist, optometrist, chiropractor) who are skilled in the diagnosis of such a disability.
- The documentation must include the following:
- Current psycho-educational evaluation and the resulting diagnostic report, which should include a diagnostic interview, assessment of aptitude, academic achievement and information processing, and a diagnosis. An individualized education plan (IEP), a 504, or a summary of performance, is acceptable if full evaluations are not available.
- OR, a clear statement of diagnosis, and whether it substantially limits one or more major life activities such as: walking, seeing, hearing, learning or working.
- Statement of impact and limitations on academic performance in a university classroom.
- Recommendations for academic adjustments to support the student with the disability.
- Documentation must be on letterhead and include the name and title of the practitioner, signature, and date.
- Some conditions, due to their changing nature, may warrant additional updated documentation in the future.
- Accommodations are always individually determined. Once Campus Accessibility Services receives the documentation, the student has the responsibility to make an appointment to discuss their eligibility to receive accommodations.
Students may choose to have the provider complete the Provider Verification Form as an alternative to the options above.
All documentation is confidential and should be submitted to:
Plymouth State University
Campus Accessibility Services
MSC 9
17 High Street
Plymouth, NH 03264
Phone: (603) 535-3300
Fax: (603) 535-2277