VCOM Institutional Policy and Procedure Manual

VCOM Policy and Procedure

Policy #S012

curriculum. Functional limitations should address the student’s performance in an environment specific to an osteopathic medical school. Functional limitation can be documented in a variety of ways:  Psychoeducational evaluations, including both test scores and narrative. Use norms to support both the diagnosis and functional limitation.  Standardized test scores, including standard and scaled scores. Use national norms to support both the diagnosis and functional limitation.  Summary of the student's developmental, educational, and/or medical history.’  Information about the student’s history of receiving

academic and/or testing accommodations helps VCOM understand the nature and severity of the student’s disability and the need for accommodation. This may include documentation of previous accommodations in the academic setting (i.e. Individualized Education Plan or a 504 Accommodation Plan). The provision of previous accommodations by another academic institution, even if for the condition reported, does not guarantee the provision of accommodations at VCOM. Further, when presented alone, such documentation is inadequate documentation of a disability; however, it can be provided as a supplement to documentation.

o Documentation must describe the specific accommodations requested, and explain why they are needed. The reason for requesting a particular accommodation is not always evident from the diagnosis. Be sure the rationale for specific accommodations focuses on the following:  Connection between the student’s disability and the requested accommodations;  Current needs of the student; and  Reasons requested accommodations are needed in VCOM’s curriculum and/or exams. o VCOM may request a second opinion or an independent evaluation of the disability if the college believes there is a need for an evaluation by a specialist with knowledge of advances in the field or if the college deems the provided reports incomplete. This may be at the student’s expense.

Technical Requirements for Admission and Successful Completion of the Osteopathic Program and Accommodations for Students with Disabilities Policy Page 14 of 16 • Signed statement from the specialist evaluating the student that verifies they have read the VCOM Technical Standards and that the student will meet the Technical Standards with reasonable accommodations.