Documentation Guidelines

DOCUMENTATION GUIDELINES
ECU is committed to compliance with all applicable federal laws and regulations regarding the reasonable accommodations needed to provide equal opportunity to qualified individuals with disabilities.

Policy
Federal law (Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of l973, as amended, and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008) established the rights of individuals with disabilities. East Central University is committed to compliance with all applicable federal laws and regulations regarding the reasonable accommodations needed to provide equal opportunity to qualified individuals with disabilities. In accordance with federal and state regulations, disability-related information will be treated in a confidential manner.

Procedure
The student is responsible for providing documentation that supports his/her request for accommodation. It is important that this document clearly establishes that the student has a disability as defined by federal regulations, and clearly supports the individual’s request for accommodation.The student with a disability may request accommodations by contacting Disability Services to schedule an intake appointment.  Students are requested to send current documentation of disability prior to this appointment.  Final determination as to the appropriateness of an accommodation in the University setting is evaluated on a case by case basis, taking into consideration student’s self-report, personal observations, and diagnostic statements or records completed by a professional.  In some circumstances, information may be required to make a final determination. If this occurs, it is the student’s responsibility to provide additional documentation.

Guidelines
Documentation on file for the applicant must:

• clearly state the diagnosed disability or disabilities.
• describe the functional limitations resulting from the disability or disabilities.
• establish the current impact of the disability within an educational setting.
• be typed or printed on official letterhead and be signed by a professional qualified to make the evaluation (including information about license or certification and area of specialization).

Documentation may include:

• a diagnostic statement of deafness or hearing loss, with a current audiogram.
• a statement identifying student's primary means of communication (oral, ASL, SEE, Cued Speech, etc.) and speech reading skills.
• recommendations for specific accommodations or technology. 
• a statement regarding the use of hearing aids, including appropriateness, function, and effectiveness, and recommendations regarding the probable effectiveness of specific assistive listening devices in the academic setting.
• limitations related to side effects from medications intended to ameliorate the effects of the disability.
• a statement regarding the age of onset of impairment and how it impacted speech acquisition and communication skills.
• describe relevant current or past services, accommodations, or modifications (some past accommodations may not be appropriate in a higher educational setting, and ECU is not obligated to provide accommodations which are not reasonable or constitute a fundamental alteration of a program or an undue financial burden to the University).

Appeals
If a student disagrees with an eligibility determination, he/she should contact the coordinator of Disability Services. If a suitable resolution cannot be reached, the student should follow the grievance procedures outlined in the Disability Services Policies and Procedures Manual.

Revised: July 7, 2017

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