DOCUMENTATION OF DISABLING CONDITIONS

GENERAL STATEMENT
Purdue University North Central is committed to responding to the needs of students with disabilities as outlined both in the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (PL 93-616) and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, (PL 101-336). Disability Services Coordinator (DSC) is responsible for working with the student to determine academic accommodations for his or her disability and to work with the student, faculty member and/or administrative staff to facilitate these accommodations. The DSC works for both the Student Support Services (sSs) program and the Dean of Students office. By federal regulation, while the DSC is working though the sSs program, he can only work with students who are participants in the federally funded sSs program. Those students with disabilities who have elected not to participate in the sSs program will receive services from the DSC through the Dean of Students office.

In order for disability related services to be provided by the University, the DSC must have appropriate documentation of the disability. This is often a two-stage process. Documentation may be available that the student has "a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of' the major life activities; a record of such an impairment; or being regarded as having such an impairment." (PL 101-336). However, this documentation may not be adequate to provide appropriate and/or sufficient information about current functional limitations in order to determine appropriate accommodations. An example of this situation is a student with a learning disability who has evidence of having been considered learning disabled in the public schools by such documentation as an Individual Educational Plan, but who does not have any psycho- educational testing data available. In this instance, the DSC will need additional information in order to make recommendations for accommodations, and the student will be referred to appropriate outside agencies.

COMMUNICATION WITH FACULTY AND ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
The following policy and procedures have been developed in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Medical and/or psychological testing information maintained by the Coordinator of Services for Individuals With Disabilities (DSC) has been released by the service provider on the written request of the student for use solely by the DSC and/or specific university personnel. It may not be released, in any manner, to other sources within the university without written permission from both the student and the service provider issuing the report. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act designates specific categories of information as "directory information" that may be released without the student's consent: student's name, address, telephone listing, school, curriculum, classification and credit hour load, dates of attendance, degrees, awards, and honors received. The Americans with Disabilities Act provides a student with the choice whether or not to request academic accommodations due to a disability.

Purdue University North Central has charged the DSC with the responsibility for determining appropriate academic accommodations for students with disabilities. In order to accomplish this goal, and to respect the right of confidentiality of students, the following procedures have been implemented:

1. At the written request of a student with a disability, the DSC will send a letter to the student's instructor notifying the instructor that the student has a documented disability. These letters may be delivered by the student or be sent through campus mail by the CISD depending on the student's situation. In either case, the DSC instructs students to communicate personally with their professors about their disability at the beginning of the semester and/or prior to a request for accommodations. This personal interaction is important because there may be specific activities in the classroom which the professor will need to discuss with the student in advance. Also, it is important for students to learn how to answer questions and communicate appropriately about their disabilities.

2. After the faculty member has received a letter from the DSC and discussed the situation with the student, he or she may have other questions about specific classroom activities. The DSC acts as a consultant to determine academic accommodations based on specific activities or subject matter. It is not appropriate for faculty to determine that accommodations are not needed without consulting with the student, the DSC or the DOS.

If there is a discrepancy between the opinions of faculty and students regarding what accommodations are necessary, the DSC has the responsibility to consider both the content of the course and the student's disability before making a final determination about what is reasonable and appropriate for that student.

3. The DSC advises students with disabilities that they are responsible for arranging their own accommodations with faculty members. However, if either the faculty member or student with a disability wishes additional information or assistance in arranging accommodations, and the student has a signed information release form on file with the DSC, that office will provide information, assistance with accommodations, and support. A student with a disability who is a participant in the federally funded sSs program will receive disability related services through the sSs program. Students with a disability, who are not sSs participants will receive disability related services through the Dean of Students office. The DSC provides services for both offices.

STANDARDS FOR DOCUMENTATION OF DISABILITIES

DOCUMENTATION OF DISABILITY
A student who has a disability must provide confirmation of such an impairment from one of the following licensed professional sources: physician, physical therapist, occupational therapist, psychologist, psychiatrist, audiologist, ophthalmologist, optometrist, or from the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation.

DOCUMENTATION OF FUNCTIONAL LIMITATIONS
Documentation of functional limitations is an essential part in determining appropriate accommodations for an individual with a disability. This documentation needs to address the disabled individual's ability to function in major life activities and to address what accommodations that the licensed professional certifying the disability feels are appropriate.