title: Postsecondary ADHD Documentation Requirements: Common Practices in the Context of Clinical Issues, Legal Standards, and Empirical Findings.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the information postsecondary institutions require when determining disability service eligibility for students with reported ADHD.
  
  
  METHODS
  ADHD documentation requirements of 200 U.S. institutions were surveyed by reviewing guidelines posted on disability services websites.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Whereas virtually all institutions required documentation, findings revealed significant variability in requirements across institutions. Required variables most often included a qualified evaluator (80%), diagnostic statement (75%), and identification of substantial limitations (73%), but only 5 of 46 evaluated variables were required by at least 50% of institutions. Supportive data such as diagnostic criteria, standardized assessment results, and rationale for accommodations were rarely required.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The majority of institutions required little to verify ADHD as a disability. Furthermore, there was little agreement on what components are essential for verification. When integrated with research, a large portion of guidelines failed to address identified weaknesses in ADHD diagnosis and disability determination.
authors.affiliation: University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA wlindstr@uga.edu.
authors.forename: Will
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lindstrom
authors.affiliation: University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Jason M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.affiliation: University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Foels
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004282:Documentation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States
keywords: ADA; ADHD; college; disability; documentation; guidelines; postsecondary