Visual Disabilities Documentation Guidelines

Overview

Students requesting accommodations on the basis of low vision or blindness provide documentation consisting of:

• An ocular assessment or evaluation from an ophthalmologist.
• A low-vision evaluation of residual visual function, when appropriate.
• An assessment of the functional limitations for which accommodations are being requested, and whether the degree of limitation is mild or severe.
• A description of treatments and assistive devices and their estimated effectiveness in minimizing the impact of the impairment (i.e. corrective lenses, vision therapy, etc.)
• Prognosis and anticipated duration of limitations and impairment.
• The major life activities affected by the condition.

The report must be signed by the qualified diagnosing professional.

Accommodations and Support Services

Requests for accommodations are considered on an individual basis by taking into account the student's qualifications related to the educational activity, the reasonableness of the request and whether or not the accommodation would fundamentally alter the nature the activity in question.

Impairments rising to the level of disability protect individuals from discrimination on the basis of disability; however, services and accommodations related to those impairments must reflect specific limitations affecting the ability to participate in one or more major life activities.

 

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