DSO: Choosing the right Professional

Choosing the right Professional

Official documentation of a disability is required to determine eligibility for accommodations on campus. It is the student's responsibility to disclose and document the disability and to request academic accommodations. The DSO is not involved in the assessment/evaluation process and does not give out the names of area professionals who could perform the necessary assessment/evaluation. It is your responsibility to self-identify as a person with a disability or substantial medical condition (see: Disability Disclosure)and to disclose and document that with our office. Since your documentation needs to be submitted by a qualified doctor or diagnostician, it’s important to find a professional who specializes in your area of disability. A qualified doctor or diagnostician will have an academic doctoral degree. Some examples include the following:

M.D., Psychiatrist
Psychiatrists are medical doctors who undergo four years of clinical residency in psychiatry after receiving their medical degree and become trained in the biology, medical aspects, assessment, and diagnostic treatment of the full range of psychological disorders. As M.D.'s, psychiatrists can prescribe medications.

Ph.D., Psychologist
A Ph.D. in clinical or counseling psychology qualifies the professional to become a researcher as well as a practitioner. Psychologists with a Ph.D. will frequently work in an academic setting and/or a clinical practice. Ph.D.'s are trained in psychological assessment and diagnostic treatment of the full range of psychological disorders.

Psy.D., Psychologist
Psychologists with a Psy.D. degree are prepared to be clinical practitioners and interpreters of research. Similar to Ph.D.'s, psychologists with a Psy.D. are trained in assessment, and diagnostic treatment of the full range of psychological disorders. However, the practices of therapists with a Psy.D. tend to place an emphasis on fieldwork and clinical experience rather than research.

Ed.D., Education
Professionals with Ed.D.'s have a thorough background in education, child development and learning disabilities, education policy, and general psychology. Therapists with this degree are particularly focused on developmental and educational assessment, educational planning, and treatment of development issues.

Wisdom, empathy, compassion and character are all attributes you'll want your professional to have, but they aren't enough. Knowledge and good professional training are essential such as an appropriate medical degree and training. You will want a professional who has acquired all of the following:

Intensive academic study in the field of psychology.
Relevant experience in differential diagnosis and the full range of psychiatric disorders.
Direct, intensive, supervised clinical experience with adolescent and adult ADHD/LD population.
Professional board certification or registration or licensure.

The following list will get you started in finding the right professional:
For Autism Spectrum Disorder: Division TEACCH at UNC-Chapel Hill
For Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: NCPA Referral Service | NC Psychiatric Association Referrals | School Psychology at NC State
For Learning Disabilities: North Carolina Psychological Association | North Carolina Psychology Board | School Psychology at NC State
For Physical Conditions: NC Medical Board Look Up | NC Ophthalmologists | NC Optometrists | Audiologists
For Psychological Conditions: NCPA Referral Service | NC Psychiatric Association Referrals