Orthopedic and Basic Chronic Medical Conditions

Orthopedic and other medical conditions must currently substantially limit a major life activity, to support eligibility under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Documentation must be from a relevantly trained, and licensed treating professional qualified to make specific diagnosis. Students are encouraged to provide their clinicians with a copy of these guidelines.

To initiate the accommodation review and determination process, appropriate documentation must include the following:

• A clearly written comprehensive statement of the disability diagnosed by a qualified professional trained in this area including current functional limitations and history of impairment relevant to academic functioning or any aspect of University life.
• Documentation should be current, within three years, and must include a signature on professional letterhead.
• The University has the right to request additional documentation if the original documentation is incomplete or insufficient in determining a qualifying disability or reasonable accommodation(s).
• The University has the right to deny accommodations in the event that the request is deemed unreasonable or presents an undue hardship.
• The University has the right to deny accommodations in the event that the documentation provided does not support the specific accommodation request in accordance with the ADA.
• Documentation must demonstrate a direct correlation between the diagnosed disability, the barrier to access caused by the disability, and the requested accommodation.
• Reasonable accommodations cannot fundamentally alter any program or course requirements.
• Any cost incurred in obtaining additional information must be borne by the student.