Disability Support Services
General Information About Documenting Learning Disabilities

General LD Info

Guidelines developed and supported by Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

Please see a DSS staff person for individualized assistance in determining whether you have a qualifying disability. Generally, staff will look for the following:

WHO:

Assessments should be administered by certified/licensed professionals e.g., psychologists, neuropsychologists, educational diagnosticians, etc.

WHAT:

Qualified evaluators should send diagnostic summaries, including a summary of psychometric test scores to DSS. The report should address aptitude, academic achievement, and information processing as well as include names, titles, signatures of evaluators, and dates of assessment. It must provide a diagnosis of a specific learning disability and preferably should include accommodation recommendations. Psychometric tests should include:

1. Wechsler Adult Intelligence and Performance Scales-R, WAIS III;
2. Stanford Binet Scales, or
3. Woodcock Johnson Psychoeducational Battery.

OR

*The Public High School Provides:

1. The letter from ACT stating the acceptable ACT accommodations for students with disabilities;
2. The most recent IEP;
3. The most recent eligibility review;
4. The student's most recent psychological evaluation;

AND

The Public High School Provides:

1. A Summary of Performance (SOP) found at AHEAD's website at http://www.ahead.org/resources/idea)
2. Or your school's version of an SOP.

*The intent of the second two options is to ensure, despite changes in IDEA, that higher education standards for eligibility are consistent with mandates and practices in secondary education.

WHEN:

Come and talk to us as soon as you know you are coming to school. DO NOT DECIDE ON YOUR OWN that your documentation is inadequate or too old. Let us help you!

Resources:

More detailed information on documentation is available at: Educational Testing Service LD Policy.

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