Blindness or Low Vision Documentation Guidelines

(The following guidelines were developed with the assistance of the Association on Higher Education and Disability and the Colorado University Disability Services office)

Evaluator’s Qualifications:

Ophthalmologists are the primary professionals involved in diagnosis and medical treatment of individuals who are blind or experience low vision. Optometrists provide information regarding the measurement of visual acuity as well as tracking and fusion difficulties.

It is not considered appropriate for professionals to evaluate members of their families. Documentation from a family member will not be accepted.

Reports from the professional should be submitted on letterhead and include the following:

Name, title, and professional credentials of the evaluator
Information about license or certification as well as the area of specialization
Number of years employed in current field
State/province in which the individual practices

Documentation:

Documentation should include the following:

A clear statement of vision related disability with supporting numerical description. The age of acceptable documentation is dependent upon the disabling condition, the current status of the student, and the student’s request for accommodations.
A summary of assessment procedures and evaluation instruments used to make the diagnosis and a summary of evaluation results including standardized scores.
Present symptoms that meet the criteria for diagnosis.
Medical information relating to the student’s needs and the status of the individual’s vision (static or changing) and its impact on the demands of the academic program.
Narrative or descriptive text providing both quantitative and qualitative information about the student’s abilities that might be helpful in understanding the student’s profile, including the use of corrective lenses and ongoing visual therapy (if appropriate).
Suggestions of reasonable accommodations that might be appropriate at the postsecondary level.