糖心原创

Documentation Guidelines

Purpose:

Help students understand what constitutes strong and appropriate documentation when applying for Disability Support Services (DSS) at CSU San Marcos. These guidelines help to:

• • Verify the presence of a disability
  • Understand the functional limitations
  • Determine reasonable academic accommodations

Guidelines:

1. Evaluation Must Be Conducted by a Qualified Professional

• Documentation must be completed by a licensed or otherwise qualified professional who is not a family member.
• Acceptable professionals may include physicians, psychologists, psychiatrists, licensed therapists, clinical social workers, or other specialists with expertise in the relevant disability.
• The evaluator must have appropriate training and credentials specific to the diagnosis.
• Documentation should include the evaluator鈥檚 name, title, license number (if applicable), signature, date and typed in English.

2. Documentation Must Include a Clear Diagnosis

• Documentation should clearly state the diagnosed condition using DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) or ICD (International Classification of Diseases), when applicable, and include relevant background and assessment methods.

3. Documentation Must Describe Current Functional Limitations

• Documentation should describe how the disability currently impacts major life activities, especially in an academic setting and include details about severity, frequency, and duration of symptoms.
• Examples may include difficulties with reading, writing, concentration, attendance, mobility, communication, or test-taking.
• The connection between the disability and academic limitations should be clearly explained.

4. Documentation Should Be Current and Relevant

• Documentation should reflect the student鈥檚 current level of functioning.
• Some conditions may require more recent documentation than others.
• If older documentation is submitted, it should still accurately describe current limitations.

5. Documentation Should Include Recommendations (When Available)

• Reports may include recommended academic accommodations.
• Recommendations should be clearly linked to the documented functional limitations.
• Final determination of accommodations is made by DSS based on institutional standards.

6. DSS Reviews the Totality of Information

• DSS considers multiple sources of information when determining eligibility and accommodations. Student self-report describing barriers and previous experiences may be considered.
• Additional documentation such as IEPs, 504 Plans, prior accommodation letters, or school records may support the request.
• A history of accommodations alone does not guarantee continued accommodations.

If you have questions about documentation requirements, please contact DSS for guidance prior to submitting materials.