Documentation Guidelines for Medical DisabilitiesMedical disability reporting guidelines have been prepared by professionals at Portland State University (PSU) to clarify the type of documentation needed when a student requests accommodations/services. The documentation must indicate that the disability substantially limits some major life activity without regard to the availability of medicines, assistive devices, or other mitigating measures. A diagnosis by a licensed medical professional is required.* Documentation should be on letterhead and must include the license number of the medical professional. The diagnostician should be an impartial individual (not a friend or a family member). The following guidelines are provided to assist PSU in collaborating with each student to determine appropriate accommodations. Documentation serves as the foundation that legitimizes a student's request for appropriate accommodations. Recommended documentation includes: Specific Diagnosis: A clear statement of the disability, including the date of onset, the DSM IV diagnosis, a summary of present symptoms, and the most recent date you saw the student regarding this diagnosis. If there is more than one diagnosis please include all. Probable Effect on Ability to Participate: Medical information relating to the student should include the impact of medication on the student's ability to meet the demands of the postsecondary environment. If specific aspects of the diagnosis or treatment are likely to impact the students ability to participate (i.e. drowsiness caused by medication), please note these. Functional Limitations: Please list any way in which the diagnosis is known to cause functional limitation(s). Explain the nature and severity of the functional limitation(s) and support this information with test data, anecdotal and clinical observations. The findings must support the fact that the individual's functional limitations are due to the stated disability. Accommodation recommendations: The diagnostician is encouraged to make suggestions of reasonable accommodations that might be appropriate for the student at the postsecondary level. If specific accommodations are requested, an explanation must be provided as to why each accommodation is recommended. This recommendation should be supported by the specific diagnosis through test results and/or clinical observations. Currency: Although diagnostic information should be current it is recognized that by diagnosis many disabling conditions manifest in static ways. In these instances older documentation may be accepted. In the case of brain injury test results may need to be updated following rehabilitation programs. *Further assessment by an appropriate professional may be required if co existing learning disabilities or other disabling conditions are indicated. All documentation is confidential and should be submitted to:
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