The Office of Disability Services provides accommodations and services to students with
documented learning or physical disabilities (i.e., specific learning
disabilities, attention–deficit / hyperactivity disorder, chronic
illnesses, mobility impairments, deaf/hard of hearing, blind/low
vision, psychiatric disabilities, and traumatic brain injuiries) that
result in a substantial limitation of a major live activity.
Appropriate services are determined by the designated faculty member
based on the documentation provided and may include one or more of the
following:
- Academic advising and monitoring
- Classroom, testing, and/or enviromental accommodations
- Assistive technology for academic purposes
- Enhancement of strategies for learning, self advocacy and daily living
Documentation Requirements
Students who request accommodations or academic adjustments are responsible for providing required documentation to the Office of Disability Services and for requesting those accommodations or adjustments. In order to fully evaluate requests for
accommodations or academic adjustments, East Stroudsburg University
require documentation of the disability that consists of an evaluation
by an appropriate professional and describes the current impact of the
disability as it relates to the accommodation request.
Documentation provided will be used by the faculty members in the Office of Disability Services to evaluate requests for
accommodations or academic adjustments based on their professional
judgement. The evaluation process includes a review of the
documentation itself, an interview with the student, and an assessment of the student's program of study.
The guidelines below were developed to assist students and prospective students in working with
their treating professional(s) to prepare the information needed to
evaluate their request. If, after reading these guidelines, individuals
have any questions, please call the Office of Disability Services at
(570) 422–3954. (V/TTY)
For individuals who have recently been receiving services from a public
school system, the information requested would most likely be contained
in the Psycho–Educational Evaluation from their most recent review.
Some of the information may also be contained in an IEP, 504 Plan, or
Transition Plan, but these documents alone do not constitute appropriate documentation. Students must request this
information separately from their high school transcripts. This
information should be sent to the Office of Disability Services. For
individuals who are or have been recently receiving services from a
state rehabilitation agency, relevant documentation may be available
through the state agencies.
For individuals transferring from another college, information related to their disability will not be sent with
a transcript request. They must request that information separately.
Additionally, the information East Stroudsburg University is requesting
may or may not have been a part of their previous college's
evaluation process. Individuals should check the information against
the guidelines below.
AS APPROPRIATE TO THE DISABILITY DOCUMENTATION SHOULD INCLUDE THESE FIVE ELEMENTS:
- A
diagnostic statement identifying the disabilitydate of the current
diagnostic evaluation, and the date of the original diagnosis. The
disability must be identified.
The diagnostic systems used by the Department of Education, the State
Department of Rehabilitative Services or other state agencies and/or
the current editions of either the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of the
American Psychiatric Association (DSM) or the International Statistical
Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems of the World
Health Organization (ICD) are the recommended diagnostic taxonomies.
In order for a student to receive services for
a specific learning disability at East Stroudsburg University, the
following elements must be identified as part of the diagnostic
evaluation
- Neurological dsyfuction (generally persumed through psychological assessment)
- Uneven growth patterns (may appear as differences between or within Verbal and Performance areas on WISC–III or WAIS–III)
- Difficulty in academic and learning tasks
- Discrepancy between potential and achievement (as measured through individually administered intelligence and achievement tests)
- Exclusion of other causes
- A description of the diagnostic criteria and/or diagnostic tests used.
This description should include the specific results of diagnostic
procedures, diagnostic tests utilized, and when administered. When
available both summary and specific test scores should be reported as
standard scores and the norming population identified. When standard
scores are not available, the mean, standard deviation, and the
standard error of measurement are requested as appropriate to the
construction of the test.
Diagnostic methods used should be congruent with
the disability and current professional practices within the field.
Informal or nonndash;standardized evaluations should be described in enough
detail that a professional colleague could understand their role and
significance in the diagnostic process.
- A description of the current functional impact of the disability.
The current functional impact on physical, perceptual, cognitive, and
behavioral abilities should be described either explicitly or through
the provision of specific results from the diagnostic procedures and
must demonstrate that the physical or mental disability creates a
substantial limitation to a major life activity. Currency will be
evaluated based on the typical progression of the disability, its
interaction with development across the life span, the presence
or absence of significant events (since the date of the evaluation)
that would impact functioning, and the applicability of the information
to the current context of the request for accommodations.
- Treatments, medications, assistive devices/services currently prescribed or in use.
A description of treatments, medications, assistive devices,
accommodations and/or assistive services in current use. Significant
side effects that may impact physical, perceptual, behavioral and/or
cognitive performance should also be noted.
- The credentials of the diagnosing professional(s).
Information describing the certification, licensure, and/or the
professional training of individuals conducting the evaluation should
be provided.
Beyond the five elements expected to be included in documentation, recommendations for
accommodations or academic adjustments will be considered. Final
determination of appropriate accommodations and academic adjustments
will be made by the faculty members of the Office of Disability
Services, in collaboration with the student and in consideration of the student's chosen curriculum.
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