Message from
Dean for Students
Norah Wylie
Academic Policies & Procedures
Disability Services
PDF version of Student Guide
Questions? Please e-mail Tracy Robbins, robbintr@bc.edu
The Dean for Students Office at Boston College Law School has a variety of services and accommodations for students with physical limitations and learning challenges. To learn more about these programs, please stop in to the Dean for Students Office, M301, or call 617/552-4342. Following are guidelines for documenting a specific disability.
Guidelines for Documentation of a Specific Learning Disability
Guidelines for Documentation of Attention Deficit Disorder
Verification and Documentation of Physical, Sensory, Psychological and Health-Related Disabilities
GUIDELINES FOR DOCUMENTATION OF A SPECIFIC LEARNING DISABILITY
Students who are seeking support services from Boston College on the basis of a diagnosed specific learning disability are required to submit documentation to verify eligibility under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The following guidelines are provided to ensure that documentation is appropriate to verify eligibility and support requests for reasonable accommodation. The cost of obtaining the professional documentation is the responsibility of the student.
1. Testing must be current.
Specifically this means that the testing must be conducted within the last four years. Because the provision of all reasonable accommodations and services is based upon assessment of the current impact of the student's disabilities on his/her academic performance, it is in a student's best interest to provide recent and appropriate documentation.
2. Testing must be comprehensive.
Testing must reflect the student's present levels of aptitude, achievement and information processing. Tests used must be technically sound (i.e., statistically reliable and valid) and standardized for use with an adult population. Actual test scores must be provided. Standard scores and/or percentiles are acceptable. It is not acceptable to administer only one test for the purpose of diagnosis.
3. Qualifications of Evaluator.
Trained and certified learning disability specialists and/or licensed psychologists may conduct the assessment. Diagnostic reports must include the names, titles, and professional credentials of the evaluators as well as the date(s) of testing.
4. Specific LD must be diagnosed.
There must be clear and specific evidence of a learning disability. "Individual learning styles" and "learning differences" in and of themselves do not constitute a learning disability.
5. Educational Recommendations.
Educational recommendations regarding the impact of the disability and accommodations recommended at the post-secondary level must be included.
GUIDELINES FOR DOCUMENTATION OF ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER
Documentation must provide information regarding the onset, longevity, and severity of the symptoms as well as the specifics of describing how it has interfered with educational achievement. It must include an in depth evaluation from the psychiatrist, psychologist, or physician who made the diagnosis as well as specific educational recommendations. Information regarding suggested pharmacological interventions should be made as well. The cost of obtaining the professional documentation is the responsibility of the student.
VERIFICATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF PHYSICAL, SENSORY, PSYCHOLOGICAL AND HEALTH-RELATED DISABILITIES
VERIFICATION OF PERMANENT DISABILITIES
A student with a physical, sensory, psychological or health related disability is to provide documentation verifying a disabling condition by a licensed health care professional who is qualified in the diagnosis of the disability and is currently or recently associated with the student. The diagnosis must reflect the student's present level of functioning of the major life activity affected by the disability. The student must present the verified documentation to the Dean for Students Office prior to obtaining accommodations and services. The cost of obtaining the professional verification is the student's responsibility.
If the initial verification is incomplete or inadequate to determine the present extent of the disability and/or appropriate accommodations, the Dean for Students Office may request supplementary documentation or assessment of the disability. The cost of the supplementary documentation or assessment is the responsibility of the student. If the Dean for Students Office requires a second professional opinion then the University shall bear any cost not covered by any third party payer.
VERIFICATION OF TEMPORARY DISABILITIES
Students seeking accommodations or services on the basis of a temporary disability must provide documentation verifying the nature of the condition, stating the expected duration of the condition, and describing the accommodation deemed necessary. Such verification must be provided by a professional health care provider who is qualified in the diagnosis of such conditions. The assessment or verification of disability must reflect the student's current level of disability, and shall be no older than 60 days. The cost of obtaining the professional verification is the responsibility of the student.
If the initial verification is incomplete or inadequate to determine the extent of the disability and appropriate accommodations, the Dean for Students Office may require supplementary documentation or assessment. The cost of supplementary documentation or assessment is the student's responsibility. If the Dean for Students Office requires a second professional opinion then the University shall bear any cost not covered by any third party payer.