DOCUMENTATION FOR BLINDNESS AND
LOW VISION
All West Virginia University students seeking
accommodations and/or modifications related to
Blindness and Low Vision must provide
appropriate documentation of that diagnosis and
the associated significant functional limitations
prior to receiving disability based
accommodations and/or modifications.
Accommodations and/or modifications will be
determined on an individual basis based upon
appropriate documentation.
It is the student’s responsibility to initiate contact
with the Office of Accessibility Services and to
provide appropriate documentation of both the
disability and related significant functional
limitations for which they are requesting
accommodations and/or modifications. This
process follows the guidelines of the Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA), the ADA Amendments
of 2008 (ADAAA), Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and current case law.*
This process is designed to assure that
reasonable and effective accommodations are
provided to all qualified students in a timely
manner. A diagnosis of a
disorder/condition/syndrome in and of itself does
not automatically qualify an individual for
accommodations and/or modifications.
Diagnostic evaluation reports submitted as
documentation of blindness and low vision must
include all of the following information in order to
be eligible for disability-related accommodations
and/or modifications. The report must:
1. Be on official letterhead, typed, signed and
dated by a qualified and licensed
professional;
2. Be within five (5) years of beginning study at
WVU;
3. Provide a clear statement of the diagnosis;
4. Include a summary of diagnostic procedures
and results used to make the diagnosis;
5. Provide a description of the student’s
significant functional limitations supported by
the diagnostic data and how they relate to a
significant impairment in functioning requiring
accommodations and/or modifications.**
*In order to meet the adult criteria of “disability”
under these federal laws a person must provide
documentation of how their significant
impairment “substantially limits” their
cognitive/academic functioning.
**A significant impairment means belowaverage functioning as measured by an
objective evaluation. An IEP or 504 Plan from
the public school system or accommodation by
another college or organization may not be meet
the documentation requirements of WVU.
Contact the West Virginia University
Office of Accessibility Services
for more information or see our website at:
accessibilityservices.wvu.edu
Voice (304) 293-6700, FAX (304) 293-3861, Email:
access2@mail.wvu.edu
Alternative formats are available on request
Revised 7/13