In general, the documentation should:
- Be provided by a licensed professional, qualified in the appropriate specialty area; the report should be on letterhead, dated and signed.
- Include both diagnostic information and an explanation of the current functional limitations of the condition. It should be thorough enough to indicate whether or not a major life activity is "substantially limited," that is, it should explain the extent, duration, and impact of the condition.
- Be detailed enough to support the accommodations that are being requested. Accommodations are determined by assessing the impact of the person's disability on academic or work performance.
- In most cases, it should be relatively recent; a suggested guideline is less than 3 years old. Documentation of conditions that are permanent or non-varying (e.g., a sensory disability) may not need to be as recent, but some chronic and/or changing conditions require even more current information to provide an accurate picture of functioning.
- For a variable or progressive condition, include the degree and range of functioning.
- Address the impact of medication or other treatments on major life activities.
SAS follows guidance from the Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) on Supporting Accommodation Requests and Guidelines for Documentation. We have provided more specific Request for Information forms for Residential Living Accommodation and ESA requests to help guide conversations with healthcare providers.
The following resources may be helpful for students in connecting with a provider and obtaining the necessary documentation:
- Glaeser Counseling Center
- Health Services
- ThrivingCampus – Resource from Penn State to help students find and connect with providers.