Documentation Guidance
ADS engages in a collaborative, interactive process guided by the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) to meet the unique needs of each individual. Third-party documentation helps ADS verify a diagnosis that qualifies as a disability, understand its impact in academic or housing environments, and make informed decisions about accommodations. These accommodations aim to support your experience without altering essential aspects or outcomes of courses or campus life. To help the Disability Specialist Team understand your needs, we request that documentation be submitted before your appointment to help expedite the registration process.
IMPORTANT: While we request documentation before a registration meeting, students can schedule a consultation to discuss their needs and get guidance on obtaining appropriate documentation if needed. For more information, please review our website for guidance on documentation requirements.
Sources of Information
We collect information during the interactive process to help us determine reasonable accommodations that support your experience, without changing essential aspects or outcomes of courses or campus life.
Student’s Self-Report
You are a vital source of information regarding how you may be impacted by your condition(s)/disability.
Through an interactive process, ADS will work with you to understand your accommodation/accessibility-related needs and determine effective accommodations.
Disability-Related Documentation
These documents are created by a qualified provider and provide background information and/or diagnostic information related to your disability, for example:
- Formal assessments or reports (neuropsychological, psychoeducational evaluation, audiogram, etc.)
- Letters from qualified evaluators or healthcare providers
- High school documentation (IEP, 504 Plan, Summary of Performance), etc.
The information within these documents demonstrates how your disability may impact your participation in courses, programs, services, and/or access to facilities at UMD.
Third-Party Verification Forms
ADS created Third-Party Verification Forms that can be used as a form of documentation. This option allows providers to answer specific questions regarding the impact of a disability within the higher education environment.
Other Sources
We may also consult with faculty or other campus partners to better understand the context of an accommodation request.
Third-Party Verification Forms
While various forms of disability-related documentation are acceptable, you can have your provider complete our third-party verification form.