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Procedures for Registration and
Eligibility Determination
For Disability Services Penn State Altoona
- It is the student’s responsibility
to self-identify as a student with a
disability. The student receives
information during the admission process
regarding the availability of services
at Penn State. The student may also be
referred by staff, faculty, parents or
others at any time throughout the
student’s educational experience.
Complete and submit the
Information Request Form for
additional information.
- The disability counselor requests
appropriate documentation regarding the
student’s disorder. The student is
provided written information as to the
specific documentation requirements and
process for coordination of services.
Students should submit their
documentation to Disability Services at
the Health & Wellness Center.
Documentation must be completed by the
appropriate clinical professional and
contain information related to
diagnosis, objective testing and/or
psycho-educational evaluations, define
severity of functional limitations, and
provide recommended academic
accommodations.
- An intake meeting is scheduled
between the disability services
counselor and the student. During the
intake interview, the student’s
condition and functional limitations are
discussed, services are explained, the
student’s rights and responsibilities
are reviewed, and the student signs an
information release form.
- Once documentation is provided, it
is reviewed and evaluated. A
documentation review board reviews the
documentation to determine eligibility
under the ADA. The board consists of
disability specialists, psychologists,
medical professionals, and other
assigned staff. The Board determines if:
- The documentation meets Penn
State’s guidelines for appropriate
documentation.
- The student’s condition meets the
criteria for having a disability under
the ADA. The ADA defines a
disability as a physical or mental
impairment that substantially limits a
major life activity.
- If the student’s disorder is
determined by the documentation review
board to meet the definition of a
disability, then a determination will be
made regarding reasonable
accommodations.
- The determination for reasonable
accommodations is an interactive process
between the student, the disability
counselors, the provider of the
documentation, and if necessary, in
collaboration with the student’s
instructor. Once reasonable
accommodations are determined, the
student’s counselor drafts an
accommodation letter specific to each
course in which the student is enrolled.
Recommended accommodations may vary for
each course based on the specific design
and requirements of the course.
- Students are required and
responsible for presenting
accommodations letters to faculty when
requesting needed services and
accommodations.
Information for Students
| Information for Faculty |
Meet the Staff | Disability Services | Health & Wellness Center
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