Montgomery County Community College is committed to providing equal access to its educational programs as mandated by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities are made on a case-by-case basis and may require specific documentation. Please consult with Disability Services on either campus to determine if documentation will be required with which to evaluate your specific request for reasonable accommodation.

Disability documentation should confirm the existence of a disabling condition; describe the assessment/ evaluation method that was used to arrive at the diagnosis; identify current deficits that cause limitations, preferably in a college setting; and relate the current impact of the condition to each of the requested accommodations. Documentation must be on letterhead stationery, indicate the date of the most recent evaluations, and include the signature, title, and credentials of the evaluators or professionals who prepared the documentation. Documentation must be provided by a licensed professional, qualified to make diagnoses in the specific area of disability who is not related to the student. Types of documentation may include psychological, neuropsychological, psycho-educational, or psychiatric evaluations, Individual Educational Plans, 504 plans, Summaries of Performance (SOP), and letters from qualified medical and mental health professionals. An IEP, SOP or 504 Plan alone is generally not sufficient documentation for higher education; please consult specific guidelines below. Physician’s prescription pad notes are not acceptable. While Disability Service invites and welcomes recommendations for accommodations from providers, Disability Services has the responsibility and authority to determine reasonable accommodations at the College.

The following disability categories are not exhaustive, and students should always consult with Disability Services with respect to their specific request for reasonable accommodation and whether documentation will be required in their cases. Please present these guidelines to the professional who will provide the College with the needed documentation.

Learning disability documentation

Learning disability documentation, preferably within three years of enrollment at the college, should include current level of functioning in the following areas:

• Cognitive functioning
• Academic achievement in reading, writing, and mathematics
• Information processing; processing speed and fluency; memory; and executive functioning

The documentation should also include:

• List of tests administered
• Summary of diagnostic interview and relevant history
• A clear statement diagnosing LD
• Data and analysis supporting the diagnosis, including standard scores and percentiles
• Discussion of processing strengths and weaknesses, and whether any deficits currently cause substantial limitations to academic functioning
• A rationale for recommended reasonable accommodations to compensate for deficits.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Documentation

ADHD documentation, preferably within three years of enrollment at the college, should include the following:

• A clear statement diagnosing ADHD, level of severity, and date of most recent evaluation
• Description of the methods, criteria, and tests (if any) used to make the diagnosis
• Description of current symptoms that meet diagnostic criteria
• Summary of relevant history, evaluation findings, and impact on learning
• Discussion of whether current symptoms cause substantial limitations to learning
• A rationale for recommended reasonable accommodations to compensate for deficits.

Students with ADHD may submit the ADHD Verification Form _^(PDF), fully completed by a qualified professional.

Psychological Disability Documentation (including Autism Spectrum Disorders)

Psychological disability documentation, preferably within three years of enrollment at the college, should include the following information:

• DSM diagnosis (if applicable), level of severity, and date of most recent evaluation
• Description of the methods, criteria, and tests (if any) used to make the diagnosis
• Description of current symptoms that meet diagnostic criteria
• Summary of relevant history, evaluation findings, and impact on learning
• Discussion of whether current symptoms cause substantial limitations to learning
• A rationale for recommended reasonable accommodations to compensate for deficits.

Students with Mental Health disorders may submit the Mental Health Verification Form _^(PDF), fully completed by a qualified professional.

Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) may submit the ASD Verification Form _^(PDF), completed in full by a qualified professional.

Physical Disability, Chronic Medical Condition, Visual or Hearing Impairment

A student with a physical disability, chronic medical condition or visual or hearing impairment may be required to provide information to support a request for a reasonable accommodation. The documentation must be a written report of an evaluation by an appropriate professional (e.g., medical doctor, physical or occupational therapist, audiologist) relating the current impact of the condition to the requested accommodations. The following information should be included:

• A clearly stated diagnosis, level of severity, and date of the most recent examination
• Description of the methods, criteria, and tests (if any) used to make the diagnosis
• Summary of relevant history, examinations findings, and current symptoms
• Discussion of whether any manifestations of the condition currently cause substantial limitations to learning or functioning in a college environment
• The expected duration or progression of the condition
• A rationale for recommended reasonable accommodations to compensate for deficits.

Students with Physical, Chronic Health, or Sensory disabilities may submit the Physical, Chronic Health, and Sensory Verification form _^(PDF) completed in full by a qualified professional.

Traumatic or Acquired Brain Injury

Documentation must be submitted by a licensed physician, neurologist, psychologist or neuropsychologist. Documentation should be current, preferably within the last three years; (the age of acceptable documentation is dependent upon the recency of the injury and student’s current functional status).

• A clear statement of the brain injury and the probable site of lesion
• A summary of cognitive and achievement measures used and evaluation results including standardized scores, or percentiles used to make the diagnosis.
• Description of strengths and weaknesses; identification of substantial limitations to learning
• A summary of present residual symptoms which meet the criteria for diagnosis
• Medical information relating to the student's needs should include the impact of medication
• A rationale for recommended reasonable accommodations to compensate for deficits.