Does my student have to prove she has a disability? What documentation should be provided?

• Your student will be required to provide information that indicates they have a current disability. Postsecondary institutions may set reasonable standards for documentation.
• The required documentation may include one or more of the following: a diagnosis of the disability and date of diagnosis; how the diagnosis was reached; the credentials of the professional; how the disability substantially limits them academically and current functional limitations. The information needs to be professionally documented (not on a medical prescription pad).
• Your student will be treated as a legal adult at the institution and be expected to advocate directly with faculty and staff about any concerns involving their disability and accommodations.
• Although an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or Section 504 plan may have assisted your student in high school, it is generally not sufficient documentation at the post-secondary level.
• Postsecondary institutions place different demands on your student than high school and in some cases a student’s disability may change.
• If the documentation your student has is not sufficient, a representative of the institution must tell your student in a timely manner what additional documentation is needed for consideration

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