Disability Services

Who can Document a Disability

Appropriate documentation required by Baldwin-Wallace College is a written report prepared on official letterhead by an appropriately credentialed professional that clearly diagnoses a disability and/or records showing the history of the disability. School plans such as individual educational plans (IEP) or 504 plans are not sufficient documentation although they may be included as part of the comprehensive evaluation and report. Documentation from one or more of the following professionals who has directly evaluated, diagnosed, and/or treated the individual with the disability will generally be acceptable:

• Hearing and speech disabilities. Qualified personnel include ear, nose, and throat specialist; audiologist; speech therapist; psychologist; family physician; or other qualified medical specialist.
• Learning disability and attention deficit disorder. Qualified personnel include licensed psychologist, psychiatrist, or school psychometrist.
• Mental or psychological disabilities. Qualified personnel include psychologist, psychiatrist, licensed counselor, family physician, or other mental health professional.
• Mobility, coordination, traumatic brain injury, HIV and AIDS, and health disabilities. Qualified personnel include family physician, orthopedist, neurologist, cardiologist,    rehabilitation specialist, or other medical professionals. Medical records must clearly document, diagnose, and discuss the condition.
• Visual disabilities. Qualified personnel include ophthalmologist, optometrist, family physician, or other medical specialist.

This list is not intended to be exhaustive or to restrict assessment in other pertinent and helpful areas such as vocational interests and aptitudes.

Guidelines for Documenting a Disability

The following guidelines are provided to assure that evaluation reports are appropriate to document eligibility:

• Evaluations must be current. B-W generally requires documentation prepared within the past three years for conditions whose impact on academic performance may change over time. Disability Services for Students reserves the right to request an updated or more extensive evaluation.
• The written report must include a specific diagnosis, that is, clear and specific evidence and identification of a disability. For example, terms such as “learning styles,” “learning problems” and “academic difficulties” do not constitute a learning disability. Remember, school plans, such as an IEP or 504 plan, are not sufficient by themselves, but they may be included in the comprehensive report
• Documentation accepted at B-W may not be sufficient for graduate schools or assessments required for graduate school or licensure (e.g., the GRE, PRAXIS, etc.).Students are responsible for contacting the schools or organizations sponsoring the assessments for their specific documentation requirements.
• Confidentiality of diagnostic reports is strictly maintained. When a student provides documentation of a disability, only four offices on campus may have access to the information as needed to help provide or facilitate accommodations. These offices are Disability Services for Students, the Learning Center, the Counseling and Health Center, and the office of Student Affairs (includes Residence Life). A student must give written permission for release of information beyond these four offices. There are certain unusual circumstances that may permit exceptions to the rules of disclosure. They include a life-threatening medical emergency, an official court order, a report of child or elder abuse, and behavior that poses a direct threat to the health and safety of the student or others.

Please refer to the Documentation Criteria link for more specific information related to each disability.