Office for Students with Disabilities

Physical Disabilities Documentation Guidelines

You must provide medical documentation of your specific disability in order to verify accommodation eligibility under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Documentation needs to be current in order to reflect present functioning. Additional documentation may be requested based upon your current status and your request(s). All documentation is confidential and is on file at the Office for Students with Disabilities.

You are responsible for making an appointment with an Accommodation Specialist to discuss their documentation and eligibility for accommodations, which are determined each semester. The OSD will make the final determination of eligibility for accommodations. OSD cannot review an accommodation request until documentation is complete. Please contact OSD at 978-542-6217 if you have any questions.

Physical disabilities may include but are not limited to: mobility impairment, chemical sensitivity, cancer and AIDS. Neurologists or other medical specialists can provide information regarding diagnosis and treatment of those individuals with physical disabilities. Recommended documentation must include:

• The most recent date of assessment (or reassessment), if the condition is progressive or if the student expects a change in condition.
• A specific diagnosis of a disability.
• A review of pertinent history and the date of first diagnosis.
• Description of the current symptoms, fluctuating conditions/symptoms and prognosis.
• A summary of the assessment procedures used to make the diagnosis.
• Medical information which may be important in a college/university environment, including any medication and whether there are side effects of the prescribed medication and whether there are crisis episodes associated with the disability
• Substantial limitations to this student's major life activities.
• Suggestions of reasonable accommodations that might be appropriate at the postsecondary level are encouraged.
• These recommendations should be supported by the diagnosis. Please note that OSD will make the final determination of eligibility for accommodations.
• Include the name, address, phone number and title and credentials of the specialist.

Documentation Guidelines | Accommodations | Faculty Information
Rights and Responsibilities | Resources | Contact Us