Physical/Sensory Disabilities

Students who have physical and sensory disabilities should self-identify to ODS as soon as they have accepted admission to Princeton. Some accommodations have a long lead time to implement or must be determined by certain University deadlines, so self-identification as early as possible will facilitate the implementation of accommodations.

Documentation Requirements

Students requesting academic accommodations must register with ODS and submit documentation prepared by a qualified evaluator that substantiates the disability, provides information about the functional limitations and demonstrates the need for accommodations.

For disabilities that are readily apparent (such as blind/deaf/wheelchair user), extensive documentation is not required, but recommendations from medical professions on effective support may be helpful. In these cases, history of accommodation as well as conversation during the intake interview will be important for determining reasonable accommodations through the interactive process.

The documentation requirements are as follows:

• Diagnostic statement identifying the disability, date of the current diagnostic evaluation, the date of the original diagnosis, and a description of the diagnostic criteria and test(s) used. Also included in the evaluation should be (a) a description of the expected progression or stability of the disability over time; (b) an estimate of the change in the functional limitations of the disability over time; and (c) recommendations concerning the need for reevaluation.
• A description of the current functional impact of the condition
• A description of a current treatment plan
• A description of recommended accommodation(s) including assistive technology or other equipment requirements
• Credentials of the Diagnosing Professional(s) including certification, licensure, professional training

A medical disability documentation form is available by contacting ODS or on the Forms page.