Guidelines for Documentation of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) 

Furman University is committed to ensuring equal access for persons with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  Students who wish to obtain accommodations for a disability must submit documentation of the disability to the Disability Services office.  It is the responsibility of the student with a disability to obtain and pay for this documentation. 

The purpose of the documentation is twofold.  First, it must establish that the student is a person with a disability.  The documentation must also provide a rationale for authorizing reasonable accommodations.  The purpose of accommodations is to allow equal access for the student with a disability.

Accommodations should be appropriate to a student’s current level of functioning.  In general, the evaluation should be conducted within three years of the date of request for services.  Exceptions may be made in the case of a disability of a permanent and unchanging nature.  If the disability is less stable, more frequent updates may be required.  Although the underlying processes involved in AD/HD may be life long, there may be changes in functioning within an academic setting over time.  As a general rule, it is appropriate to re-evaluate these conditions periodically in order to adjust the accommodations to current needs.

Documentation for AD/HD should consist of a written statement, evaluation report, or a detailed letter from a licensed psychologist or physician who diagnosed the disorder and/or is responsible for treatment of the disorder.  The written statement must comply with the guidelines described below.  Please note that an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) does not generally provide enough information to meet these documentation guidelines.  It will be accepted as supplemental information.

Students who are requesting more than minimal accommodations for AD/HD must follow the university’s guidelines for learning disabilities.  Minimal accommodations are defined as extended time (up to time-and-a-half) for tests, option to take tests in a low-distraction environment, and note-taking assistance.

Criteria for Documentation of AD/HD

Documentation should:

• reflect the student’s current level of functioning and should generally be less than three years old.
• be provided by a licensed psychologist or physician who is qualified to diagnose AD/HD.  The practitioner should not be related to the person being evaluated. 
• be typed on letterhead, dated, and signed by the evaluator.  Documentation on prescription pads will not be accepted.
• include a clearly stated diagnosis of the disabling condition, the date of diagnosis, and the date of most recent contact with the individual.
• include a description of observed symptoms that meet the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for AD/HD.
• present the individual’s history of AD/HD, including any history of previous accommodations.   
• include a clear description of the limitations in academic functioning resulting from AD/HD, as well as a description of the impact of medications or other treatments prescribed.
• include recommendations concerning accommodations needed in an academic setting.

All documentation should be sent to:    

• Disability Services
• Furman University
• 3300 Poinsett Highway
• Greenville, SC  29613
• Phone:  864-294-2322
• Fax:  864-294-3044