Requirements for Reports

Requirements for Reports Documenting Vision Impairments

Western Illinois University's office of Disability Support Services (DSS) facilitates accommodations and services for qualified students with disabilities enrolled at Western. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects students from discrimination on the basis of disability and ensures the provision of reasonable accommodations. The following documentation guidelines establish that a student is eligible for accommodations and services under these laws, demonstrate that the disability produces a significant, functional impact on a major life activity, and support the student's request for accommodations. All professional reports or letters should be type-written on professional letterhead, dated and signed.

Qualified Evaluator

Professionals conducting evaluations and rendering diagnoses of vision impairments must be a certified practicing medical doctor (MD) or optometrist (OD) and must hold qualifications that are recognized by the state of Illinois as affirming his or her eligibility to diagnose vision impairments.

The Professional Evaluator's Documentation Checklist is available in Adobe PDF format and requires Adobe Reader, a free download. Alternative formats are available upon request by emailing disability@wiu.edu, calling 309/298-2512 or TT 309/298-1856.

Current Documentation

DSS professionals must be able to ascertain the current impact of the condition in order to determine appropriate accommodations. Therefore, the documentation should be up-to-date and address current functional limitations.

Diagnosis and Impact

A comprehensive report should include the following information:

Type and severity of vision loss, date of onset, and subsequent progress and treatment of the condition
Extent of visual fields and degree of visual acuity
Effects of the vision loss on general and academic functioning
Currently prescribed or recommended treatment, care or assistive devices
Types of activity that are specifically contraindicated by the student's condition

Need for Accommodations

The report should describe the current and significant functional limitations that warrant accommodations and provide recommendations for academic accommodations that are directly linked to those limitations. In addition, recommendations for accommodations pertaining to campus board, room, or transportation needs should be included.