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DOCUMENTATION GUIDELINES FOR PSYCHIATRIC DISABILITIES
Documentation of a
disability must be generated by a medical or professional expert in the
related field of disability and submitted in writing to Disability
Support Services where it will be kept in a separate, confidential
file. The cost and responsibility for providing this documentation
shall be borne by the student.
NOTE: A diagnosis of a disorder/condition/syndrome in and of
itself does not automatically qualify an individual for accommodations
under the ADA.
Professional
diagnostician(s) to be consulted (may include but not limited to): Psychologist, Psychiatrist, or Consulting Nurse Practitioner or
Physician’s Assistant in conjunction with the diagnosing professional
For psychiatric
disabilities the following guidelines are appropriate:
-
A
psychological/psychiatric disability is defined as an impairment of
cognitive, educational and/or social functioning caused by a disorder as
described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV), or successive editions;
-
The documentation or
report should indicate the current impact of the disability. Currency
for documentation of psychiatric conditions should be within 6 months to
1 year (depending on the stability of the condition). The report must
be prepared by a mental health professional, be written on letterhead
paper including licensure information and credentials of the preparer
and should:
-
Specify the nature,
severity, current impact of the disability; this should include the
specific functional limitations of the disability on this specific
individual and how these severely affect this individual in a major life
activity;
-
Anticipate the duration
of the disability;
-
State the diagnosis in
the nomenclature used by the DSM IV (or successive editions);
-
Address the student’s
current ability to function in the college environment (ability to
focus, organize one’s time, attend class, work in groups, work
independently, etc.);
-
Include current
medication(s) and the current side effects that may impact the student
in an educational setting.
-
Suggestions of reasonable accommodations
with supporting evidence may be
included. Please note that accommodations may not be based on work or
family conditions, economic measures, or commuting difficulties, but be
specific in nature to a functional psychiatric limitation of the
student, and should only be suggested to provide “equal access” to
“level” the playing field (not based on providing the student a better
playing field.) Accommodations do not guarantee success, only equal
access.
Please Note: The
final determination for providing appropriate and reasonable
accommodations rests with the Disability Support Services Office and
Green River Community College.
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Paula Burns, Director,
ext. 2646
Jean Carlson, Program
Coordinator, ext. 2318
Lindbloom Student Center,
2nd Floor, Room 271A
Main number:
(253) 833-9111
Greater Eastside:
(206) 464-6133
Tacoma:
(253) 924-0180
TDD: (253) 288-3359
FAX: (253) 288-3471 |
