Disability Services: Documentation of Psychiatric Disorders

Print Psychiatric Disorders Documentation Form

Germanna Community College is required by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Ameri-cans with Disabilities Act to provide auxiliary aides and services to qualified students with document-ed disabilities. Federal law defines a disability as:

"A physical or mental impairment that substantially limits
one or more major life activities".

Major life activities are defined as the ability to perform such functions as:

• Walking
• Seeing
• Hearing
• Breathing
• Speaking
• Learning
• Working, or
• Taking care of oneself

It is important to note that a mental impairment in and of itself does not necessarily constitute a disa-bility. The impairment must be significant enough to "substantially limit" one or more major life activ-ities.

Germanna strives to ensure that qualified students with psychiatric disabilities are appropriately ac-commodated, and if possible, that these accommodations do not jeopardize successful therapeutic interventions. The college does to modify requirements that are essential to the program of instruc-tion or provide accommodations for persons whose impairments do not substantially limit one or more major life functions.

This form is designed to allow us to achieve these goals. Students who wish to receive academic adjustments due to a psychiatric disability need to have this form filled out by a psychiatrist, licensed psychologist, licensed social worker, or licensed professional counselor.

The professional completing this form:

• must have first-hand knowledge of the student's condition
• must have experience diagnosing and treating college students, and
• be an impartial professional who is not related to the student.

Print Psychiatric Disorders Documentation Form