Documentation Guidelines

General Guidelines

Each student request is unique, and our documentation guidelines provide a general overview of the information our coordinators require when reviewing these unique requests.

SAS will review any third-party documentation provided, including any recommendations for accommodations that may help us determine how best to assure equal access for the student. Documentation is most beneficial when it provides specific diagnoses with insight into how a disability impacts various academic experiences (testing, reading, etc.). When the recommendations are for support to enhance success or are considered outside the scope of what is necessary for equal access, the student will be referred to other resources and or given options that may be able to address the specific need.

Please note that you should not delay meeting with us out of concern for not having the right paperwork. Each coordinator will discuss specific third-party documentation needs during the Welcome Meeting and steps you can take after the meeting. Our first priority is meeting with you, not reviewing the paperwork.

General Documentation Guidance and Information

General information and guidance on documentation requirements
General information and guidance on documentation requirements

General Documentation Guidance and Information

If the relationship between the accommodation(s) requested and the disability is not intuitive or if the requested accommodation modifies a degree requirement, you may be asked to provide additional documentation. Additional documentation is needed for some accommodations to specifically link the disabling condition to the functional limitation.

We will ask the student to work with their healthcare professionals to provide information to assist in determining accommodations. Healthcare professionals are encouraged to utilize our assessment forms and consider the questions provided in the "Questions for Medical Professionals" page when authoring a letter or report.

While it is helpful to have documentation that is recent, a disability will be considered ongoing in duration unless the documentation indicates otherwise.

If you do not have any form of documentation, our office can share what local options are available to seek appropriate documentation
Questions for Medical Professionals

Questions to consider when providing documentation for review
Questions to consider when providing documentation for review

Questions for Medical Professionals

Describe your history with the student including how long you have been working with them

Provide a diagnosis in accordance with current professional standards and techniques
Please include a summary of your professional assessment of the condition and any diagnostic tools used to make the diagnosis

Does this diagnosis rise to the level of disability?

How has this disability impaired the student in carrying out major life functions?

What have been the historical challenges /barriers in the academic setting?

What does the student need in the university setting to address the challenges/barriers you specified?

What accommodations would you recommend?

Providing a record of academic accommodations previously provided by other institutions (e.g. college accommodations letters, 504 plans, IEPs) can be helpful for SAS in assigning accommodations.
Please note that some college accommodations will differ from High School accommodations
How to Submit Documentation for Review

Options for documentation submission to our office
Options for documentation submission to our office

How to Submit Documentation for Review

If you already have an account on our system Accommodate, upload your documentation following the steps below:
Once you are logged in, click on Documentation

Under documentation, click on Approved Documentation

Select “Add New” and upload your document(s)

Email our general office email at accessibility@iastate.edu with documentation for review

You or your medical provider can fax them to us at 515-294-2397

Learn more about the accommodation application process by clicking the link below.

Learn More

In reviewing documentation for accommodation eligibility, our office is looking for information that:

Identifies the disabling condition and the impact of that condition for which accommodations are being requested
Is provided by an appropriately-licensed professional
Is dated with Letterhead and Contact information

Our office does not accept the following as documentation:

Information that is illegible or in a language other than English
Information from non-appropriately licensed professionals
Research articles
Documentation that is provided by a member of the student's family

Academic Documentation Guidelines

Example documentation, general guidelines, and more.
Example documentation, general guidelines, and more.

Academic Documentation Guidelines

All academic accommodation requests require medical documentation submitted to the Student Accessibility Services office. Accessibility coordinators can provide guidance on documentation needs during a welcome meeting.

Example Documentation

IEP/504

Psychological Evaluation

Letter from a licensed medical provider (see guidelines below)

Other previous medical records

Forms and Guidance

ADHD Assessment Form

Mental Health Assessment Form

Specific Learning Disability Documentation Guidelines

General Academic Documentation Guidelines

Learn More about Academic Accommodations
Housing and Dining Documentation Guidelines

Documentation guidance and request forms
Documentation guidance and request forms

Housing and Dining Documentation Guidelines

Housing Requests Require:

A contract must be submitted through the regular ISU housing process

Submission of the Housing and Dining Request form

Medical documentation following our housing documentation guidelines

Dining Requests Require:

Submission of the Housing and Dining Request form

Medical documentation following our dining documentation guidelines

Learn More about Housing and Dining Accommodations
Assistance Animal Documentation Guidelines

Forms and resources for ESAs in housing
Forms and resources for ESAs in housing

Assistance Animal Documentation Guidelines

Requests for emotional support animals in housing require the following documentation to be submitted:

Appendix A

Appendix B*

Animals in residence agreement form

Housing and dining request form

*Filled out with an Accessibility Coordinator

Learn more about ESAs

Documentation Guidelines

General Guidelines

Requirements for All Requests

In reviewing documentation for accommodation eligibility, our office is looking for information that:

Our office does not accept the following as documentation:

Learn More About Accommodations

Documentation Guidelines

General Guidelines

General Documentation Guidance and Information

Questions for Medical Professionals

How to Submit Documentation for Review

Requirements for All Requests

In reviewing documentation for accommodation eligibility, our office is looking for information that:

Our office does not accept the following as documentation:

Academic Documentation Guidelines

Housing and Dining Documentation Guidelines

Assistance Animal Documentation Guidelines

Learn More About Accommodations