Documentation Guidelines
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended (ADA AA, 1990, 2008) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (1973), students have the right to self-disclose a disability and receive accommodations through Disability Support Services (DSS) at Mount Wachusett Community College (MWCC). For a student to be eligible for accommodations through DSS, they must provide documentation that meets the following standards, at minimum:
Documentation should:
- Be no more than 3-5 years old.
- Come from a licensed professional, relevant to the student’s particular disability diagnosis. A licensed professional is a trained, certified, or licensed physician, psychologist, or other professional involved in assessment.
- Be typed with the provider’s official letterhead, contact information, date, and signature.
- Clearly state a disability diagnosis and the current status of the disability, including expected progression or stability of the disability.
- Discuss how the diagnosis substantially limits one or more major life activities and how it impacts learning, academic performance, or campus experience.
- Recommend college-appropriate, reasonable accommodation(s).
Note: a recommendation of a specific accommodation from a healthcare professional does not guarantee approval for those accommodations. Accommodations are assigned on a case-by-case basis to provide equal access without making fundamental alterations to course expectations or requirements.