Section 1: Documentation                                                                                                                                  MO-AHEAD > Table of Contents > Section 1.4

What diagnostic information will I need for documentation of ADHD?
 

• Provision by a qualified professional
• Recent data to provide a current "picture" of the individual (usually within three (3) years)
• Assessment information, including:

• Evidence of early impairment which, by definition in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th Edition) (DSM-IV), is first exhibited in childhood and manifests itself in more than one setting

• Diagnostic interview

• Relevant testing using reliable, valid, standardized and age-appropriate (usually adult) assessments and norms

• Number of applicable DSM-IV criteria and description of how they impair the individual

• Specific diagnosis

• Clinical summary including how the effects of ADD/ADHD are mediated by the recommended accommodation(s)

Again, it is important to realize that accommodations can change over time and with differing environmental demands. It is also important to note that accommodations provided in higher education institutions will be granted only if directly related to the disability that is documented.

Remember: Call the disability services office at any college you are interested in attending. Find out what documentation is required so you are prepared to gain access to the accommodations you need to be successful in college.

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