DisAbility Support Services (DSS) requests documentation to understand how a disAbility affects a student’s learning and informs reasonable accommodations. A student’s own description of their lived experience is important, valued, and will be discussed with a DisAbility Resource Coordinator during the initial meeting. In some cases, DSS may also request additional information from a medical or licensed professional to better understand the disAbility’s impact in a university setting. A DisAbility Verification Form may be accessed above to assist in providing documentation.
Many kinds of documents can be used. If helpful, you may ask your provider to complete our DisAbility Verification Form. Documentation must be from a licensed professional provider.
Examples include:
- School records (IEP, 504 Plan, etc.)
- Medical records
- A letter from a licensed healthcare provider
- Educational or psychological evaluations
- Hearing (audiology) reports
- Vision reports
- Proof of accommodations on standardized tests (SAT, ACT, GRE, etc.)
Documentation should include:
- Provider’s name, title, credentials, date, and signature
- The diagnosed disAbility
- How the diagnosis was made
- How the disAbility currently affects the student
- Whether the condition is long-term or may change
- Past or current accommodations, services, or medications
- Recommended accommodations or assistive tools
DSS may ask for additional information. For conditions that may change over time (like ADHD, learning disAbilities, or mental health conditions), documents should be able to address your current condition and impact (from the past 3–5 years).
Some students are required to take exams outside of a course, for licensures or as part of an admissions process. These include PRAXIS, NCLEX, State Bar Exams, LSAT, and more. These exams are not administered by DSS. They have their own documentation requirements and separate accommodation process students must complete. It is recommended that students look ahead to these exam requirements and see what documentation might be required. Many licensure exams require current documentation (within the last three years).
Documentation should explain:
- That the student has a disAbility
- How the disAbility substantially limits learning, daily life,or one or more major life activity
- How the requested accommodations connect to those limits.
Healthcare providers should clearly explain why an accommodation is needed and how it helps the student have equal access in an academic setting.
They may be asked to describe:
- How the disAbility affects learning
- Symptoms that impact schoolwork
- What a flare-up looks like and how long it lasts
- How often symptoms occur
- How severe the symptoms are
- Which accommodations are recommended and why.
Students may also reflect on the above and be ready to describe how their disAbility impacts their lived experiences with their coordinator.
Students or providers may contact a DisAbility Resource Coordinator or udss@uwyo.edu for help with documentation questions.
You may submit documentation before, during, or after your meeting with your DisAbility Resource Coordinator. Documentation must be received and reviewed before accommodations are implemented:
- Upload with your DSS Registration Form
- In person: Knight Hall, Room 109
- By mail: DisAbility Support Services
1000 E University Ave., Dept 3135
Laramie, WY 82071-2000 - By email: udss@uwyo.edu
- By fax: 307-766-3298
Documentation is held in our AIM system and destroyed after seven years from the student's last enrolled semester. We can archive a student's profile when requested.
DisAbility and medical information shared with DisAbility Support Services (DSS) is kept private and protected under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Students are not required to disclose diagnoses to instructors; accommodation letters focus on access needs rather than medical details. While some students choose to share information with instructors or staff, this is always optional.
DSS shares DisAbility-related information only with university officials who have a legitimate educational interest and/or on a need-to-know basis to implement accommodations. This may include faculty, housing and residential staff, safety personnel, and others involved in providing approved accommodations.
DSS can still meet with students who have not been formally diagnosed or are working to obtain documentation. We encourage these students to schedule an Information Session with us to talk about options and next steps. Contact udss@uwyo.edu or at (307) 766-3073
