General Information about Documentation
The ADA defines a person with a disability as one who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. Individuals with disabilities who attend or plan to attend a post-secondary institution may need reasonable accommodations or auxiliary aids to ensure equal access to the programs and services offered. The laws mandating that post-secondary
institutions provide these services to otherwise qualified students include Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). To receive accommodations in the post-secondary setting, a student must inform the institution's disability services office and start the process of determining their eligibility for accommodations. Student Accessibility Services (SAS) is the designated office at St. Lawrence University.
Purpose
These documentation guidelines are intended to help students obtain the necessary documentation from qualified professionals. While appropriate documentation of a disability is only one aspect of establishing eligibility for accommodations, this documentation helps the SAS staff understand the impact of the disabilities, as well as the needs and potential accommodations required. SAS also uses documentation for the following purposes:
- to verify the existence of a disability;
- to support the request for each specific accommodation;
- to assess the nature of the disability(ies) and its impact within the post-secondary environment;
and
- to aid in the collaborative determination of eligibility for auxiliary aids and services to lessen the impact of the disability.
How SAS Evaluates Requests for Disability Accommodations
Student Accessibility Services (SAS) at St. Lawrence University engages in an interactive process with each student to determine appropriate accommodations. These accommodations and academic adjustments are based on documentation submitted by the student from a licensed and qualified provider, along with a student interview. When necessary, SAS will seek information from campus stakeholders regarding the requirements essential to the course, program, service, facility, or activity for which the student is requesting an accommodation. This information helps SAS evaluate whether the requested accommodation or an alternative option is reasonable and appropriate to ensure equal access and opportunity to all aspects of the university environment.