Determining Eligibility for Reasonable Accommodations

Disclosure of Disability (Appendix II)

Individuals seeking accommodations under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 must identify themselves to the ADA Coordinator in the Office of Accessibility Services.

The Disclosure of Disability is to be completed by the student and will provide the Office of Accessibility Services with important information regarding the student’s disability, serving as the official means through which the student’s disclosure is made. Please note that the official disclosure is made to the ADA Coordinator only and not to other College staff, course mentors or test proctors.

Verification of Disability (Appendix III)

The student should send the Verification of Disability instructions to the professional or agency that will complete the evaluation. All documentation must be submitted on the official letterhead of the professional describing the disability. The report should be dated, signed by the professional (not the student) and include the name, title and contact information, as well as the email address and professional credential of the evaluator. The following information regarding the student is required:

Name of Student
Diagnostic Statement Identifying the Disability
Description of the Diagnostic Methodology Used
Description of the Current Functional Limitations
Expected Progression or Stability of the Disability
Recommendation for Accommodations, Adaptive Devices, Assistive Services and/or Support Services
Medication Prescribed Including Possible Side Effects

If the original documentation is incomplete or inadequate to determine the extent of the disability or reasonable accommodation, the University has the discretion to require additional documentation. It is not acceptable for such documentation to include a diagnosis or testing performed by a member of the student’s family. Additionally, students requesting accommodations for the manifestations of multiple disabilities must provide evidence of all such conditions.

Thomas Edison State University does not provide medical, mental, physical or learning disability evaluations.

Release of Confidential Information (found in Appendix IV)

This form is to be completed by the student. The student will use the Term Accommodation Request form to approve the release of information regarding their disability by the ADA Coordinator to appropriate Thomas Edison State University staff, faculty and proctors, as needed. Students must sign the form where indicated.

Term Accommodations Request Form (Appendix IV)

The Term Accommodation Request form must be completed and filed for each term in which a student is registered for Thomas Edison State University credit earning methods. All required documentation must be received prior to processing this request. Please allow three weeks to complete.

Student Consent to Release ADA-Related Information (Appendix V)

Should you wish to permit someone else to discuss your Disclosure of Disability and Verification of Disability documentation with the ADA Coordinator and OAS staff, you must complete the ‘Student Consent to Release ADA-Related Information’ in its entirety, sign with your authentic signature, date it, and return it to the Office of Accessibility Services via mail, email or fax (as shown at the bottom of the form).

After all documents have been received by the Office of Accessibility Services, the ADA Coordinator will review the information. A determination will be made and the student will be notified in writing of the status of their request for accommodation. If needed, the ADA Coordinator may conduct an interview with the student via telephone, Skype or in-person.

Be assured that all records related to a student’s disability are confidential and are kept in locked files in the Office of Accessibility Services.