Providing Documentation
To receive accommodations, students must document their disability and have it certified at Brandeis. This documentation forms the basis for receiving appropriate, reasonable accommodations in the classroom and in living quarters.
To receive accommodations in a timely way, students must present documentation of their disability before the semester begins or soon thereafter.
To support a request for reasonable accommodation, the documentation provided must be:
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Be current (no more than 3 years old) and specific.
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Be provided by a qualified professional(who is not a family member or relative).
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Substantiate the disability; and substantiate the need for specific accommodations.
Current documentation (no more than three years old) is required for a condition that can manifest differently over time or for a condition that responds to medication. It is required for all learning disabilities and AD(H)D. Current documentation is encouraged for a condition which does not change over time, but studentsmay seek a waiver if the physician or licensed psychologist can document that re-testing is not medically necessary to re-evaluate the disability.
If students believe they may be entitled to a waiver, they may request a waiver form from Kathleen Maloney, Co-Administrator of the Health Center, or Lois Finstein, Department Administrator at the Psychological Counseling Center. Waivers are not granted automatically. The University may require further clarification or information from a physician or licensed psychologist to support your request.
In addition, for all requests for accommodation, the University may, at its discretion, require further documentation if the information submitted is not sufficiently conclusive or substantiive.
After reviewing the documentation, the Medical Director, Dr. Poaster, or the Counseling Center Director, Dr. Berlin, will make a determination. In the event they determine that the documentation is sufficient, she/he will send a confidential certification report to the student and to Beth Rodgers-Kay, Director of Disabilities Support and Services.
Where to Submit Documentation
Documentation of a physical disability must be submitted to:
Kathleen Maloney
Co-Administrator of the Health Center
Golding Health Center
Mailstop 034
P. O. Box 9110
Waltham, MA 02454-9110
Documentation of a psychological, attention deficit, or learning disability must be submitted to:
Lois Finstein, Department Administrator
Psychological Counseling Center
Mailstop 061
P. O. Box 9110
Waltham, MA 02454-9110