Disability Services Documentation Requirements
Please review the documentation requirements specific to each disability. Students with disabilities not listed below should contact the Disability Services Office at 602-943-2311 or 866-948-4636 to determine any required documentation.
Please note that Section 504 plans and Individualized Education Plans, generally established during a student’s high school years, are not acceptable forms of documentation on their own and must be accompanied by supporting documents
| Disability | Required Documentation |
| Attention Deficit Disorder/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD) | Completed information/verification form by a licensed physician, psychiatrist, or psychologist indicating diagnosis, assessment of how diagnosis may limit student in classroom, and recommended accommodations. |
| Emotional/Mental Illness | A psychological evaluation performed usually within the past 3 years, which also should be submitted with the verification form. Usually a psychologist, psychiatrist, a nurse or doctor trained in mental health, or a similarly trained professional can diagnose. Include supplemental materials, such as a psychiatric evaluation. |
| Learning Disability* | Educational testing completed as an adult and usually within 3 years. The University cannot use IEP information unless it contains the specific testing results. Usually a psychologist or a speech and language specialist conducts these evaluations. Testing results are required. |
| Permanent Sensory or Physical Disability | Completed verification form filled out including diagnosis, assessment of how long diagnosis may limit student in classroom, and recommended accommodations. If the information the health care professional provides is not specific or missing, the student will need to provide more detailed verification. General temporary illnesses and conditions (e.g., cold, flu, normal pregnancy, etc.) are not considered for accommodations. Please provide any supplemental materials, such as hospital stays and other medical notes, that might assist the process. |
| Vision Conditions | Optometrist, ophthalmologist, or physician specializing in conditions of the eyes must complete a verification form including diagnosis, assessment of how long diagnosis may limit student in classroom, and recommended accommodations. Include any supplemental materials, such as visual tests verifying the condition and recommend accommodations. |
| Hearing Conditions | Requires the information/verification form to be filled out completely including diagnosis, assessment of how long diagnosis may limit student in classroom, and recommended accommodations. Verification requires an audiologist, speech and language pathologist, or physician specifically trained to work with hearing conditions. A copy of an audiogram should be included with the information/verification form. |
*Common Learning Disabilities
Dyslexia – A language-based disability in which a person has trouble understanding written words. It may also be referred to as reading disability or reading disorder.
Dyscalculia – A mathematical disability in which a person has a difficult time solving arithmetic problems and grasping math concepts.
Dysgraphia – A writing disability in which a person finds it hard to form letters or write within a defined space.
Auditory and Visual Processing Disorders – Sensory disabilities in which a person has difficulty understanding language despite normal hearing and vision.
Nonverbal Learning Disabilities – A neurological disorder which originates in the right hemisphere of the brain, causing problems with visual-spatial, intuitive, organizational, evaluative, and holistic processing functions.