AD/HD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) Documentation Guidelines
Students requesting accommodations on the basis of attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD) must provide current documentation by a qualified diagnosing professional. Examples are licensed psychologists, psychiatrists, neurologists, and in some instances family practice physicians. The diagnosing professional must have expertise in the differential diagnosis of the documented mental disorder or condition, follow established best-practices in the field, and not be related to the patient.
The documentation must include:
- Documentation Needs to Be Current (within 3 years)
- Documentation Needs to Be Comprehensive
- Evidence of Early Impairment (parent interviews, report cards, etc.)
- Evidence of Current Impairment (and level of severity)
- Alternative Diagnoses or Explanations Should Be Ruled Out
- Relevant Testing Must Be Provided
- Identification of DSM-IV Criteria
- Documentation Needs to Include a Specific Diagnosis
- Statement of Specific Functional Limitations (especially those involved in attending a post-secondary educational institution, and whether the degree of limitation is mild or severe)
- An Interpretative Summary Needs to Be Provided
- Each Accommodation Recommended by the Evaluator Needs to Include a Rationale
(Note that tests of intelligence, cognition/information processing and academic achievement, which may not be part of the diagnostic process itself, may be needed by a disabilities specialist to determine appropriate accommodations and services for a student with AD/HD.)
For specific guidelines on the criteria for AD/HD documentation, please see the Educational Testing Services Policy Statement for Documentation of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Adolescents and Adults.
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 of 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.
Documentation
For a student to qualify for service at the DRC, an approved licensed professional must complete an AD/HD Documentation Form.
Students themselves must also complete and return an Application for Services Form with the disability documentation.