Documentation Guidelines
Documentation for Academic Accommodations
A student requesting accommodations must provide thorough documentation of a disability. Documentation helps the Educational Access Center (EAC) understand how your disability affects your education and helps staff recommend the proper resources to assist you during your college experience. The essential elements of thorough documentation are:
Credentials of Evaluator
The name, title, and professional credentials of the evaluator, information about license or certification (e.g., licensed psychologist), and area of specialization should be included. Employment and state/province where the evaluator practices should also be clearly stated.
Diagnostic Statement Identifying the Disability
A clear diagnostic statement describes the diagnosed condition, how the condition was diagnosed, provides information on the functional impact, and details the typical progression or prognosis of the condition.
Description of Diagnostic Methodology
Includes diagnostic criteria, evaluation methods, procedures, tests, and dates of administration, as well as a clinical narrative, observation, and specific results.
Description of the functional impact of the disability on a major life activity
Demonstrates whether and how a major life activity is substantially limited by providing a clear sense of the severity, frequency, and pervasiveness of the condition(s).  Note: Changing conditions and/or changes in how the condition impacts the person brought on by growth and development may warrant more frequent updates.
Description of current/past accommodations, services, and/or medications
Describe auxiliary aids, assistive devices, support services, and accommodations, including their effectiveness in improving functional impacts of the disability. Include any significant side effects from current medications or services that may impact physical, perceptual, behavioral, or cognitive performance.
Documentation for Housing or Dining Accommodations
Before approving you for housing or dining accommodations, we will need to verify your disability AND the disability-related need for your accommodation request.
If your disability is not readily apparent, then we ask that you submit reliable documentation. Reliable documentation includes a disability determination from a government agency (e.g., a local education agency) or a note from a licensed healthcare care professional. Reliable documentation must:
- Verify that your condition(s) meets the definition of a disability (i.e., a physical or mental
impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities) - Describe your housing or dining accommodation request
- Shows the relationship between your disability and the need for the housing or dining accommodation request
If your disability is readily apparent, e.g., blind or low vision, deaf or hard of hearing, or in a wheelchair, AND your accommodation request relates to your apparent disability, please share this information in your request for services (linked).
Documentation for Assistance Animals in On-campus Housing
Before approving you to have an assistance animal live with you in on-campus housing, we will need to verify your disability AND the disability-related need for an assistance animal. This does not apply to service animals but does apply to other assistance animals (which may also be referred to as emotional support animals, comfort animals, or companion animals).
If your disability is not readily apparent, then we ask that you submit reliable documentation. Reliable documentation includes a disability determination from a government agency (e.g., a local education agency) or a note from a licensed healthcare care professional in your home state or the state of Idaho. The government agency or licensed healthcare provider you’re working with must complete the Disability Verification Form for an Assistance Animal (linked) or write a letter that…
(1) is necessary to
verify that the person meets the Act’s definition of disability (i.e., has a physical or mental
impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities), (2) describes the needed
modification, and (3) shows the relationship between the person’s disability and the need for the
requested modification.
- Verifies that your condition(s) meets the definition of a disability (i.e., a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities)
- Describe your housing accommodation request (i.e., that you need an assistance animal)
- Shows your disability-related need for an assistance animal by explaining one or more identified effects of your disability that an assistance animal will improve.
If your disability is readily apparent, e.g., you are blind or low vision, deaf or hard of hearing, or in a wheelchair, AND your animal provides assistance related to your apparent disability, please share this information in your request for services (linked).
NOTE
- Certifications, registrations, and other documentation purchased over the internet is NOT considered reliable documentation and will not be accepted.
- Boise State University Health Services does not provide letters for assistance animals. To obtain documentation, you must contact your community primary care provider or a community mental health provider. University Health Services has a list of community mental health providers (linked) on their website.