Disability Documentation - Mental Health - Flagler College

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Flagler College
Office of Services for Students with Disabilities (OSSD)
Registering and Applying for Accommodations
Eligibility for services at Flagler College is based on current laws which govern postsecondary
education, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
of 1973. These laws prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability and allow for certain
protections and rights of equal access to all college programs and services for which a student
is otherwise qualified.
Students at Flagler College must provide the Office of Services for Students with
Disabilities with documents that establish a physical or mental impairment/
disability that substantially limits a major life activity and must comply with the
established procedures before accommodations can begin.
In order to provide equitable academic adjustments and accommodations to students seeking
services at Flagler College, the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities (OSSD) requires
students to:
1. present appropriate documentation (see documentation requirements below)
2. meet with the Coordinator or her designee (see contact information below)
3. comply with the established accommodation procedures
Retroactive accommodations are not allowable at Flagler College. Thus, it is imperative for
students to establish their eligibility for accommodations before or early in the semester and to
follow through with the services available to them. OSSD does not compel students to access
services; they must take the initiative.
1. Documentation Requirements for Mental Health Disorders:
Documentation will be reviewed and reasonable accommodations will be determined on an
individual basis by the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities and the Office of
Academic Affairs. A student is not considered to be qualified for accommodations based on the
presence of a disability alone or even on the history of previous academic accommodations
(such as an IEP or a 504 plan); it must be clearly documented that the current condition
significantly impacts the student in a major life activity, including learning.
Based on standards from the Association of Higher Education and Disability and on best
practices, documentation acceptable to Flagler College must comply with the following:
‣ Reports must be current and professional. Documentation is intended to represent the
student’s current levels and the current impact of the disability on academic,
psychological or physical functioning. This must be age-appropriate and if found to be
outdated, more current information will be required. All reports should be typewritten in
English and delivered on letterhead with all contact information available. In most cases,
documentation must be done within the past 1 – 3 years.
‣ Evaluations must be conducted and reports written by a Qualified Professional.
Every assessment/report must be completed by a trained and qualified (i.e. certified/
licensed) professional. All applicable licensure information must be available upon
request. All qualified professionals must have training and/or experience with adolescents
and adults and have training specific to the diagnosed disability. They should not be
family members.

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Flagler College
Office of Services for Students with Disabilities (OSSD)
Examples of qualified professionals for Mental Health Disorders
Psychologist or student clinician who is being supervised by a professional.
Mental Health Professional (LMHC, LCSW, LMFT)
Psychiatrist
‣ Documentation must include a specific diagnosis. Reports must definitely state the
disability (DSM diagnosis when appropriate) and its significant limitation to the academic
environment. The documentation must state the diagnosis clearly and specifically.
‣ Documentation must be comprehensive and include:
1. A summary of all relevant historical and medical information.
2. A history of presenting symptoms
3. A summary of applicable diagnostic tools
4. Information about specific functional limitations
5. List of all medications and side effects that might impact the student in
a college environment
‣ Documentation must include recommendations for accommodations as they directly
relate to the functional limitation. A prior history of an accommodation, without a
demonstration of a current need, does not in and of itself warrant the provision of a like
accommodation at Flagler College. Each accommodation recommended by an evaluator
should include a rationale. The evaluation should support the recommendations with
specific test results or clinical observations. If an accommodation is not clearly identified in
the diagnostic report, Flagler College will seek clarification and, if necessary, more
information and will make the final determination as to whether appropriate and reasonable
accommodations are warranted and can be provided. Flagler College reserves the right to
request reassessment when questions regarding previous assessment or previous service
provision arise.
2. Meet with the Coordinator or her Designee
Contact the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities (OSSD) at 904.819.6460 or
email at OSSD@flagler.edu to schedule an appointment. At that time, the student will meet
individually with the Director of Disability Services in L211 to review documentation, discuss
academic goals, request accommodations, review the procedures for approved
accommodations and outline expectations on the student’s behalf.
3. Comply with Established Procedures for Accommodations
Once accommodations are established, notification will be sent to all professors. Students must
then follow the OSSD procedures to obtain accommodations.