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Documentation Policy

To qualify for services from STAR, the students must identify themselves as having a disability, request services, and provide documentation such as special education records, which include recent psychological testing results and/or a physician's statement with a diagnosis, prognosis, and recommendation for accommodation. Student accommodations are based on:

1. The student's educational needs.
2. The intake interview.
3. And by the documentation the student provides.

The following are descriptions of the type of documentation needed to receive accommodations through STAR:

• Attention Deficit (Hyperactivity) Disorder
• Autism Spectrum
• Learning Disabilities
• Hearing Impairment
• Physical or Medical Disabilities
• Visual Impairment
• Other Physical Disorders

Documentation Forms

Documentation forms are available where applicable. Once documentation has been completed you may schedule an Intake Appointment by calling Karen at 815-280-2230.

• Attention Deficit Disorder (PDF 16.5KB)
• Impairment and Disability Assessment (PDF 16KB)
• Mobility Impairment (PDF 18KB)
• Neuropsychological Disability (PDF 11KB)
• Psychological Disability (PDF 20KB)
• Visual Impairment (PDF 12KB)

Attention Deficit (Hyperactivity) Disorder

The applicant must provide a recent medical evaluation by a qualified physician.

The report must state:

• The diagnosis, with the DSM-IV criteria
• The impact the disability has on academic performance
• Recommended accommodations pertinent to the testing results
• Information relating to prescribed medication, including information on side effects and the impact of medication changes.

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Autism Spectrum

The applicant must provide a copy of a recent evaluation by a qualified professional. The report must state:

• The diagnosis
• The impact the disability has on academic performance
• Recommended accommodations pertinent to the diagnosis

If a student has received special education services through his or her local school district, the most recent Individualized Education Program (IEP) and Multidisciplinary Conference Summary (MDC) must also be provided.

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Learning Disabilities

The applicant must provide a recent (within past 3 years) full-scale psycho-educational evaluation by a qualified professional and a report which states the diagnosis, the impact the disability has on academic performance, and the recommended accommodations pertinent to the testing results. The report should include the following adult assessment measurements:

Aptitude

A complete adult aptitude assessment including all percentiles, subtest and standard scores is required. The preferred adult aptitude test is the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Third Edition (WAIS-III).

Individual Achievement

Testing must include percentiles, standard, and subtest scores for all subject areas assessed.

Information Processing

Measures should assess areas such as short- and long-term memory, sequential memory, auditory and visual perception, and processing speed.

If a student has received special education services through his or her local school district, the most recent Individualized Education Program (IEP) and Multidisciplinary Conference Summary (MDC) must also be provided.

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Hearing Impairment

The applicant must provide diagnostic results from a full hearing test performed by a qualified professional. Documentation must also address the following:

• Relevant medical history, including date of hearing loss.
• Specific diagnosis and recent audiogram.
• Description of functional limitation (with and without any hearing aids or other assistive devices or treatments).
• Specific recommendation for accommodation(s) and accompanying rationale.

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Physical or Medical Disabilities

The student must provide a copy of the following information as it applies to the disability on the letterhead of the individual's health care provider with that provider's signature or on the STAR form with the providers' signature.

The report must include:

• Diagnosis and original diagnosis date
• Etiology/cause
• Impact or limitation
• Medications
• Side effects of medication
• Suggestions or recommendation for accommodations
• Any additional information that would assist STAR is helping the student

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Visual Impairment

The applicant must provide a copy of the complete ocular examination from an optometrist or ophthalmologist that includes:

• Diagnosis and original diagnosis date.
• Etiology/cause
• Impact or limitation (including acuity scores).
• Visual acuity with and without correction.
• Status of corrective lenses (glasses and/or contact lenses and any other devices).
• Medications and side effects of medication
• Suggestions or recommendations for accommodations.
• Any additional information that would assist STAR in helping the student.

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Other Physical Disorders

The applicant must provide diagnostic results from an appropriate medical examination that documents the relevant medical history, provides a description of functional limitation, and states a specific recommendation for accommodation(s) and accompanying rationale.

Each request for accommodation is evaluated on a case by case basis using the information described above.

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