Psychiatric Disabilities

The student shall submit a current written diagnostic report (no more than five years old unless the testing was done after 18 years of age) of psychological disabilities that are based on appropriate diagnostic evaluations completed by trained professionals (e.g., psychologists, psychiatrists, neuropsychologists, school psychologists, certified professional counselors). If the diagnostic report is more than one year old, a letter from a qualified professional that provides an update of the diagnosis with a description of the individual's current level of functioning during the past year, and a rationale for the requested accommodations must be submitted.

The diagnostic report must include the following

  • A clinical interview, relevant historical information, age at initial diagnosis, duration and severity of the disorder.
  • Discussion of medications, review of past and current academic achievement, and history of disability accommodations and their effectiveness.
  • The procedures used to diagnose the disability (include a list of all instruments used in the assessment and test scores as applicable).
  • Discussion of the assessment results.
  • DSM-IV diagnosis (include all five axes).
  • A diagnostic summary statement that includes the following:
    • A clear statement that a disability does or does not exist. Terms such as "appears," "probable," and "suggests" used in the diagnostic summary statement do not support a conclusive diagnosis.
    • A clear statement specifying the substantial limitations to one or more major life activities. If the limitations are in learning (e. g., reading, mathematics, and written expression), an appropriate psycho-educational evaluation must be administered to document ability/achievement discrepancies.
    • A discussion of medications and their possible impact on academic functioning (e.g., concentration, attention, sedation)
    • A recommendation for essential accommodations relative to the diagnosed disability, including rationale.
    • The duration for which these accommodations should be provided based on the current assessment.
    • A recommendation regarding reevaluation to determine ongoing need for disability accommodations (e.g., one semester, one year, two years).