Disability Documentation
- Verification of Disability
- ADD/ADHD
- Learning Disability
- Psychological Disability
- Perceptual (Communication or Visual) Disability
- Functional or Health Impaired Disability
- Mobility Disability
- Temporary Disability - Disability Categories
- Confidentiality of Student Records
Verification of Disability
The campus director of the program for services to students with disabilities or designee has the authority to determine disability status. Verification may require documentation from a professional qualified to assess the nature and extent of the disability and from recognized and reliable sources in the applicable field that provides appropriate standards. Where the nature and extent of the disability is obvious, e.g., amputee, blind, quadriplegic, the campus director of the program for services to students with disabilities or designee may verify the disability. In those cases where the director or designee is unable to verify the disability on his or her own, the student shall provide appropriate documentation from a verifying professional qualified to assess the nature and extent of the disability. Documentation may be provided by a licensed physician or, psychologist, audiologist, speech pathologist, licenses clinical social worker, rehabilitation counselor, marriage and family therapist, learning disability specialist, or other appropriate professional. The director or designee shall have ultimate authority to determine disability status, subject to established appeal procedures.
Guidelines for ADD/ADHD, Learning and Psychological Disability Documentation
There are specific guidelines for documenting Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD), Learning Disabilities (LD), and Psychological Disabilities. Please follow the links to guidelines for documentation for the appropriate disability category.
- ADD/ADHD: Guidelines for Documentation of ADD/ADHD
- Learning Disabilities (LD): Guidelines for Documentation of Learning Disability (LD)
- Psychological Disabilities: Guidelines for Documentation of Psychological Disability
Perceptual (Communications and Visual), Functional or Health Impaired, Mobility, Temporary Disability Documentation
Individuals with Perceptual (Communication and/or Visual), Functional or Health Impaired, Mobility, and/or Temporary Disabilities should review the Disability Verification Form to ensure their documentation provides all the information necessary for the staff at SDRC to determine appropriate academic accommodations. The documentation should include:
- Brief description of the diagnosis,
- Prognosis,
- Functional limitations of the disability, and
- Effect of medications, etc., on the individual's ability meet class requirements.
The documentation should be submitted on the certifying professional's own form/letterhead (if the Disability Verification Form is not used). Please include the name, title, and certification or license number of the certifying professional.
Disability Categories
A disability means a physical or mental impairment that limits one or more of the major life activities, a record of such an impairment, or being regarded as having such an impairment. A qualified individual/student with a disability means someone with a disability who, with or without reasonable modifications to rules, policies, or practices, the removal of architectural, communication, or transportation barriers, or the provision of auxiliary aids and services, meets the essential eligibility requirements for the receipt of services or the participation in programs or activities provided by a public entity. Such an individual must meet the academic and technical standards requisite for admission or participation in the education programs of the California State University (CSU) campuses. This includes students with disabilities participating in clinical or field placement that are offered as part of a program's field of study.
For reporting purposes, the CSU has established six broad disability categories for individuals with a disability:
- Visual Limitation:
- Blindness or partial sight to the degree that it impedes the educational process and may necessitate procurement of accommodations, support services, or programs.
- Communication Disability:
- Limitation in the processes of speech and/or hearing that impede the educational process and may necessitate the procurement of accommodations, support services, or programs. Students in this category shall not require interpreting services or real-time captioning.
- Deaf:
- Limitation in the process of hearing that impedes the educational process and necessitates the procurement of accommodations, support services, or programs. Students in this category may require communication access such as oral or sign language interpreters, note-taking services, or real-time captioning services.
- Mobility Limitation:
- Limitation in locomotion or motor functions that indicates a need for accommodations, support services, or programs. Included in this category are persons who have asthma, cardiovascular problems, or those who have physical limitations that restrict the ability to function without accommodation in the campus environment.
- Learning Disability:
- A generic term that refers to the heterogeneous group of disorders manifested by difficulties in the acquisition and use of listening, speaking, reading, writing, reasoning, or mathematical abilities due to neurological dysfunction. Even though a learning disability may exist concomitantly wit other disabling conditions (e.g., sensory impairment) or environmental influences (e.g., cultural/language differences or conditions defined in the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), it is not the direct result of those conditions or influences. The assessment and documentation standards for assessing learning disability and need for support services conforms to national standards.
- Other Functional Limitations:
- Any other disability, such as a dysfunction of a body part or process, which necessitates the use of accommodations, support services, or programs, and which does not fall within the categories listed above.
Confidentiality of Student Records
California State University campuses comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) and its regulations. Accordingly, each CSU campus shall maintain appropriate confidential records identifying students with disabilities. These records shall include the student's name, address, social security number, nature of disability, support services needed, and verifying statement by the director of disable student services or designee, or documentation provided by the student. The confidential records will be protected in accordance with FERPA regulations with the purpose of providing appropriate academic accommodations or adaptations or curricula. Information about the student may be released with the student's consent or in accordance with FERPA or other applicable legislation.
Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA)
The federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) afford students certain rights with respect to their education records. They are:
- The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days of the day the university receives a request for access.
- The right to have allegedly harmful effects of university decision or actions on the student(s) be investigated and resolved. Obtain copies of the grievance procedures from the Vice President for Student Affairs, the Dean for Undergraduate Studies, or the Office for Diversity and Compliance Services.
- The right to consent to disclosures or personally identifiable information contained in the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure of directory information.
Directory information includes: name, address, e-mail addresses, telephone number, date and place of birth, major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, photographs, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received, and the most recent previous educational agency or institution attended by the student. This information is subject to release by Humboldt at any time unless the university receives prior written objection from the student. Currently enrolled student may withhold directory information under fERPA. Forms requesting the withholding of directory information is available at the Academic Support Center, Siemens Hall 210 (SH 210).
Humboldt is authorized to provide access to student records to campus officials and employees who have legitimate educational interest in such access. These persons are those who have responsibilities in connection with campus academic, administrative, or service functions, or a person or company with whom Humboldt State University has contracted (such as the National Student Loan Clearinghouse) and who have reason for using student records connected with their campus or other related academic responsibilities. The right to file a complaint with the US Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Humboldt to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The office administering FERPA: family Policy Compliance Office; US Department of Education; 600 Independence Avenue, SW; Washington, DC 20202-4605
