Walla Walla University Disability Documentation Policies
Guidelines and Specifics
- The documentation must be from an individual who is qualified by education and experience to diagnose the specific disability.
- It is not appropriate for professionals to evaluate members of their own families for the purpose of documentation of a disability.
- All reports should be typed or legibly written on official letterhead. All reports or letters must be dated and signed. Licensing information of the diagnosing professional, including the state in which they are licensed, is preferred.
- The documentation must include the instruments and standards used to evaluate the student, the official diagnosis DSM-V code, and a description of how the student is substantially limited in one or more major life activities.
- The documentation should be current and relevant to the condition, preferably within five (5) years for learning disabilities, and within one to three (1-3) years for most other disabilities. There is more leniency when it comes to permanent medical conditions or physical disabilities, but you may want to be aware of documentation guidelines for graduate exams and other assessments.
- The report can list recommended accommodations; however the DSS office determines whether or not an accommodation is appropriate and reasonable.
If you do not have documentation that fits the stated guidelines, please complete an online application to help us understand the barriers you may experience and what we can do to support you at WWU. You may also request a meeting with DSS staff to discuss any concerns. We may be able to offer provisional accommodations, based on any documentation you may have from your school district (such as an IEP or 504 Plan), information provided by a counselor or other individual, or the discussion that we have together as we await your full assessment or documentation.