Guidelines for Sensory Disabilities Blind or Low Vision

Blind or Low Vision

A specific visual disability must currently substantially limit some major life activity, including learning, to support eligibility under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities act of 1990.
Documentation must, therefore, support this eligibility, as well as any requests for reasonable accommodations. The following guidelines describe the necessary components of acceptable documentation for students with visual disabilities. Students are encourage to provide their clinicians with a copy of these guidelines.

Legally blind or other visual disability:

Students requesting accommodations on the basis of a visual disability must provide documentation consisting of:

• An ocular assessment or evaluation from an ophthalmologist, or a low-vision evaluation of residual visual function, where appropriate; and
• Assessment of functionally limiting manifestations of the disabling condition; and
• Current documentation is preferred.