EIU Department of Student Disability Services

Academic Accommodation Request Documentation

Documentation Guidelines

Students must submit the Accommodation Request Form to begin the accommodation eligibility process. The appropriate documentation listed below can be attached to the Accommodation Request Form. 

In order to evaluate academic accommodation and service requests, the Office of Accessibility and Accommodations will need information regarding:

1. That you have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity.
2. How your disability is likely to impact you here at Eastern Illinois University.

OAA will accept the following types of documentation and records to support eligibility and accommodation requests:

1. OAA Provider Verification Form
   1. This form can be completed to support the student’s disability by a relevant healthcare provider (psychologist, psychiatrist, therapist, licensed clinical social worker, medical doctor, optometrists, etc.) who is not a family member of the student and/or who does not have an inherent conflict of interest. 
2. An Individualized Education Plan (IEP) from high school- The OAA requests the three year re-evaluation and/or psychological report with eligibility and the most recent Individualized Education Plan containing the most current goals, accommodations, and services. Both documents should be provided.
3. A 504 Plan from high school -The OAA requests the evaluation used to determine the need for accommodation and the most current accommodation plan.
4. A neuropsychological, psychological, or medical report completed by a qualified treating or diagnosing healthcare provider (psychologist, psychiatrist, therapist, licensed clinical social worker, medical doctor, optometrists, etc.) who is not a family member of the student and/or who does not have an inherent conflict of interest. The report must be completed. Giving parts of the report instead of a full report is not acceptable.

5. A letter can be provided by a qualified treating or diagnosing healthcare provider (psychologist, psychiatrist, therapist, licensed clinical social worker, medical doctor, optometrists, etc.) who is not a family member of the student and/or who does not have an inherent conflict of interest. Documentation can be completed on the healthcare provider’s official letterhead and should be signed by the credentialed professional. Information should contain:

   1. A diagnostic statement identifying the disability with a date of diagnosis;
   2. The impact of the disability;
   3. An assessment of major life activities that are affected by the impairment (concentration, social interactions, learning, thinking, walking, standing, sitting, etc.)
   4. Include test scores/diagnostics when applicable; and
   5. Must include name, title of the professional, license number, address, phone and signature of the professional.

OAA will also consider any additional information a student would like to provide, including but not limited to, your description of the barriers you experience in the academic and campus environment.

While this documentation alone may be sufficient to establish that a student has a disability, that determination is separate and distinct from the determination of the need for a requested accommodation. When necessary, OAA may ask for additional documentation concerning your disability and/or the need for accommodations. When such documentation is necessary, it will be limited to the need for the specific accommodation requested.

These general guidelines were developed to assist you and those in your support network to prepare this information so we can evaluate your request and make recommendations. If you have questions, please contact us at 217-581-6583 or accommodations@eiu.edu.

Webpage last updated 05/29/2025.