For the purpose of this policy, a psychological/psychiatric disability is defined as an impairment of cognitive, educational, and/or social functioning caused by a disorder as described in the American Psychiatric Diagnostic Statistical Manual, 4th edition (DSM-V) or successive editions.
Ask your health care providers to submit the following information to the Access Center. As an alternative, you may provide them with the Provider Verification Form (PDF). Documentation should show current impact of the disability.
Documentation should include:
- Details about the nature, severity, current impact of the disability and anticipated duration.
- An assessment of the student's current ability to function in the college environment (e.g., ability to focus, retain information, organize one's time, attend class, organize and write papers, work in groups or alone).
- If the condition is episodic, please help us understand the impact by including:
- Triggers and warning symptoms of onset
- Symptoms experienced during an episode
- Frequency and duration of episodes
- Care plan for management
- Side effects of medication on the student's ability to meet the demands of the postsecondary environment (physical, perceptual, behavioral or cognitive).
- A description of the expected progression or stability of the disability over time.
- Optional: Suggestions of academic adjustments and/or auxiliary aids with supporting evidence may be included. The final determination for providing appropriate academic adjustments and auxiliary aids rests with the WSU Vancouver Access Center.
Documentation should be from a qualified healthcare provider.