Disability Support Services

The documentation request process is critical to helping the disability professionals at DMU determine the extent of the applicant’s disability, to understand the impact of the disability, and to assist in making informed decisions about accommodations. The disability professional at DMU and the applicant must establish a collaborative relationship that is deliberate, effective and responsive. The DMU professional should engage in structured, comprehensive exchanges with the applicant to explore and document past educational experiences, what has and has not been previously effective, and to determine a clear path forward. It is crucial for the applicant to be proactive and actively engaged in this process to both initiate and consistently preserve autonomy as well as a meaningful accommodation plan.

 The DMU professional may use primary and secondary documentation alone depending on the clarity, internal consistency, and congruence with the professional’s observations. If the applicant is unable to clearly describe how a disability is connected to a barrier at DMU, and how the accommodation would reduce or eliminate the barrier, DMU may request tertiary documentation. However, “No third-party information may be necessary to confirm disability or evaluate requests for accommodations when the condition and its impact are readily apparent or comprehensively described. No specific language, tests, or diagnostic labels are required” (AHEAD, 2012, p. 4). DMU will not require a burdensome documentation process that may have the effect of discouraging applicants from seeking protections and accommodations. Applicants are not required to bear the responsibility of achieving access through a cumbersome, time-consuming process. 

The applicants should be informed that they cannot assume that an accommodation has been approved until a plan has been mutually agreed upon and documented. 

Step One: Applicant Request

The applicant must initiate the contact with DMU Disability Support Services. The request will be entered into a file and primary documentation requested from the applicant. DMU is responsible for informing the applicant of the DMU process, and that it may differ from other institutions and/or prior experiences of the applicant.

Step Two: Documentation

The documentation process must be engaged as noted above with Primary and Secondary documentation entered into the file. Disability information should be relatively current and relevant, but it does not have to be recent as disabilities are often lifelong. Basic historic information with the request, the impact of the disability and inherent barriers, and the requested accommodation are sufficient. As noted above, the DMU professional may request tertiary documentation. It is the applicant’s responsibility to obtain and submit any requested tertiary documentation.

Step Three: Individual Review

Following the review of documents, the applicant will be notified of status. If approved, the extent of reasonable accommodations will be outlined (i.e., extra time for assignments, tests, etc.).

Step Four: Receiving the Accommodations

Upon receipt of the letter of accommodations, the student must sign electronically the form agreeing to the accommodations.

• Once registered students in onsite programs notify their instructors if they want to utilize accommodations in that instructor’s course.
• For online students extended deadlines for assignments and exams will be automatically set in Canvas.