DAS staff and students work together in an interactive process to determine reasonable and appropriate accommodations. In the interest of providing an accessible and inclusive experience for all involved, the process works best when DAS staff can review documentation prior to an initial meeting. DAS may, at its discretion, require additional documentation to better understand the disability and need for accommodations for the student to have equitable access and equal opportunity.
Information About Documentation
- Documentation is private information from a qualified healthcare, educational, or service professional who is knowledgeable about your disability impacts or health condition(s). Examples of qualified healthcare professionals include medical doctor, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, psychologist, social worker, optometrist, speech-language pathologist, mobility specialist, case managers, etc.
- Documentation can vary in length and format but should focus on the ways the disability or health condition(s) currently affect(s) you, especially in an academic environment.
- Documentation will not become part of the student's academic records, will be kept in the student's online file in the DAS Student Portal, and is protected by FERPA.
- Regardless of the documentation submitted, accommodations and services may differ from high school to college because the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvements Act (IDEA) is not applicable in the higher education setting.
In addition to a student’s self-report on the DAS Application and information shared with a DAS access adviser via a meeting or through email, examples of documentation that may suffice for establishing accommodations at the university level include but are not limited to:
- A detailed letter or report from a qualified healthcare professional that is signed, dated, and on letterhead
- An IEP or 504 Plan
- Information about accommodations from a previous postsecondary institution, workplace, or standardized testing such as ACT, SAT, or GRE
- MyChart/MyHealthyVet notes
- A psychoeducational assessment or neuropsychological evaluation
- Disability information from the Veteran’s administration or a vocational rehabilitation agency
- Audiogram
- Vision report
- Mobility assessment
Documentation forms/letters should be provided by a qualified professional whose field of specialization directly pertains to the student's disability and who is unrelated to the student.
- Documentation needs to be provided in English, and if translation is required, it must be completed by a certified translator.
- The student is responsible for any costs related to obtaining additional documentation if the initial documentation is incomplete, insufficient or inadequate.
Documentation that is beneficial to DAS:
- has been completed by a healthcare or services professional who has an established/long-term relationship with the student
- articulates the history of any prior accommodations, services, technology, and/or auxiliary aids utilized by the student.
- describes the disability-related functional impacts the student is experiencing in an educational environment.
- Includes information on diagnosis, treatment, medication, etc. contributing to impairment and effecting of a daily life activity
Page updated: 1/2026