Disability Documentation Guidelines

Dear Student:

To be eligible for accommodations through the Special Services Center at Southwestern Illinois College, you need to provide documentation about your disabilities. Based upon an interactive process with the student by the Special Services professional staff, as well as a review of the documentation, eligibility for reasonable accommodations is determined.

If you think you qualify for accommodated services, the Special Services Center staff encourages you to make an appointment in the Special Services office. In order to provide adequate time to obtain your documentation and arrange for accommodations, schedule your appointment six to eight weeks before enrolling in your first semester.  To make an appointment, the Special Services Center telephone numbers and locations are as follows: 

If you already have documentation, bring the information to your first appointment. Your documentation will be individually evaluated. If the documentation does not address the current impact of your disability, a re-evaluation may be required. If you do not have documentation regarding your disabilities, but think you may qualify for accommodations, you still should make an appointment in the Special Services Center. If needed, staff can refer you to professionals or agencies that can provide diagnostic testing for specific disabilities (e.g., learning disabilities). 

If you have multiple disabilities, and depending upon the accommodations you request, documentation from more than one professional may be needed. It is wise to share with your qualified professional the "Documentation Guidelines" sheet for your specific disabilities. The cost of the evaluation will be your responsibility. It is recommended that you check with your medical insurance company or employee assistance program regarding possible coverage. The SWIC Special Services Center does not release or send third party information obtained for documenting disabilities that was created by high schools, physicians or any other specialists. Individuals should request this information from the original provider of information. 

Hard copies of the guidelines are available in the Special Services Center upon request.  Finally, it is important for you to know that disability laws governing colleges and high schools are different. In addition, documentation guidelines vary from one college to another.

For specific documentation guidelines for SWIC, check the links in the menu on the right.