Confidentiality Policy

The Office of Disability Services views all materials pertaining to a student's disability as confidential. This policy is based on the recognition that discrimination often occurs as a result of attitudinal barriers and misconceptions regarding the potential of persons with disabilities. Governmental mandates, including Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) all support this policy in their encouragement of the protection of privacy.

• Any written material obtained by the Office of Disability Services is used to verify the disability and plan for appropriate accommodations.
• All written material obtained by the Office of Disability Services is maintained in individual files and kept in a secure location. Only staff persons working at the Office of Disability Services has access to these files.
• Accommodation letters prepared by the Office of Disability Services for instructors do not give specific information regarding a disability. Instead, the letters explain that the student has a disability, and that the Disability Services office has documentation to support the student's need for reasonable accommodations.
• Disability related information may be released on a legitimate, need-to-know basis within the University community only when there is a compelling reason for disclosure regarding some specific aspect of the stored confidential information. Circumstances may include a rationale for specific housing accommodations, or information to help develop appropriate instructional strategies and resources. This determination is made by the Director of Disability Services.

The Office of Disability Services does not release disability related documentation or records. Students are advised to keep a copy of any documentation provided to Disability Services for their own records. Should documentation be required elsewhere, such as when requesting accommodations for a graduate entrance examination, students are encouraged to obtain a copy of the needed documentation from the original source.