Documentation pertaining to your disability helps us work together to determine academic accommodations that will work best for you during your time at UMass Lowell.

Documentation establishing the presence of a disability is the first step in legally obtaining higher education accommodations. This helps us work together to determine academic accommodations that will work best for you during your time at UMass Lowell. Accommodations listed within the documentation will be considered as recommendations to help guide the interactive process.

Documentation may be uploaded to the Public Accommodations Request Online Form (PARF). If a PARF has already been submitted, documentation can be emailed to Disability Services.

Documentation must use a form from our “Guidance for Types of Accepted Documentation” list and meet the minimum guidelines listed below:

  • Documentation must be appropriate to your disability.
  • Documentation must be dated within the past 5 years.
  • Documentation must be in a non-editable format.
  • All documentation must be on official letterhead, dated and signed

Guidance for Types of Accepted Documentation

Disability Verification Form

Disability Verification Form (DVF) can be used to verify the diagnosis stated below.  

  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
  • Psychological / Mental Health
  • Medical / Physical Disability

Download the Disability Verification Form (pdf).

  • All sections of the form must be fully completed and signed by a licensed professional.
  • The student section of the form must be completed and signed.

Completed forms can be uploaded to the student's Public Accommodation Request form or emailed to: Disability@uml.edu.

College Letter with Supporting Documentation

For students who received academic accommodations at another college/university within the past five years, please submit documentation that meets the requirements of one of the three options below:

Option I

  • An official copy of your most recent accommodations letter along with
  • A copy of the disability-related supporting documentation you provided to your previous institution
    • Accommodations Letter must be in a non-editable format, printed on the official college letterhead, and must be signed and dated.

Option II

  • A letter from your previous institution's Disability Services Office confirming the dates you were registered with the office and the accommodations you received along with
  • A copy of the disability supporting documentation provided to your previous institution.
    • Accommodation Letter must be in a non-editable format, printed on the official college letterhead, and must be signed and dated.

Option III

  • A fully completed copy of our Disability Verification Form (pdf) to establish the presence of your disability.
    • All sections of the Disability Verification Form must be completed and signed by a licensed professional before submitting.
    • The student section of the form must be completed signed.

Note: if your prior institution's accommodation letter and Disability Documentation are older that 5 years, please email: Disability@uml.edu or call us at: 978-934-4574 for assistance.

Documentation may be uploaded to your Public Accommodations Request Form (PARF).

Individualized Education Program (IEP) or a 504 Plan

For students who had an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or 504 in high school.

A complete and signed copy of your IEP or 504 along with any neuropsychological testing or comprehensive assessment that was conducted as part of the plan.

Neuropsychological Testing or Comprehensive Assessment battery and resulting diagnostic report should include:

  • Diagnostic Interview
  • Assessment of aptitude
  • Academic Achievement
  • Information processing
  • Diagnosis

If these comprehensive assessments are older than 5 years, please contact us for assistance by email: Disability@uml.edu or call: 978-934-4574.

Veteran Documentation

Please provide a benefit letter from the Veterans Affairs (VA) that includes:

  • Official letterhead
  • Your name
  • Disability diagnosis
  • Breakdown of Percentage of service connected disabilities

Directions on how on how to obtain benefit letters from the VA can be found on the Veterans Affair government website.

If you are unable to obtain information from the VA, please contact the office of Military and Veteran's Services UMass Lowell.

Alternatively, you may use our Disability Verification Form (pdf) to establish the presence of your disability. All sections of the Disability Verification Form must be completed before submitting.

Students with diagnosed Learning Disability but did not receive support through an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 Plan.

Students who have a learning disability but did not receive support through an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 were likely diagnosed after they completed high school.

Students may submit a recent copy of their neuropsychological assessment dated within the past 5 years.

A neuropsychological assessment battery and resulting diagnostics should include:

  • Diagnostic Interview
  • Assessment of Aptitude
  • Academic Achievement
  • Information Processing
  • Diagnosis

If assessment is older than 5 year, please email: Disability@uml.edu or call us at 978-934-4574 for assistance.