Disability Documentation Requirements
Eligibility for jobs at Chimes, such as the AbilityOne Program jobs, require disability documentation. Documentation of disability specifically related to the demonstration of an individual having a significant disability as outlined by the AbilityOne Program. Different documentation is required for each category of disability.
When preparing your disability documentation please consider the following:
- Chimes is not part of the Federal Government and does not use the Federal Office of Personnel Management procedures. Chimes does not accept the Schedule A Certificate as documentation of disability.
- Veterans Affairs (VA) disability ratings are also not considered adequate documentation of a significant disability.
- Documentation from the Social Security Administration (SSA) that the individual is receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or is eligible to receive such benefits. The documentation does not require signature or identification of the individual’s disability (ies)
- Certification by a Veteran Affairs (VA) Rehabilitation Counselor is acceptable. The certification must contain a clearly stated diagnosis of the disease, injury, or impairment that causes the disability, and must contain physical limitations and/or restrictions for physical impairments.
- Chimes requires a written report or a certification signed by a qualified medical professional containing clearly stated diagnosis of the disease, injury, or impairment that causes the individual to have a disability. Proof of disability documentation must be on professional letter head or a certification of disability by a State of Local government agency (such as the Virginia Department of Aging and Rehabilitation Services, the Maryland Department of Rehabilitation Services, or Washington, D.C. Department of Disability Services).
Below you will find information, organized alphabetically on the following disability categories:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Developmental Disabilities
- Hearing Impaired | Deaf
- Intellectual Disabilities
- Mental Illness
- Physical Disability
- Substance Dependence
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Visually Impaired | Blind
Scroll down to see more information for each disability category.
Diagnosis
- Autism
- Asperger’s Syndrome
- Pervasive developmental disorder
- Childhood disintegrative disorder
- Rett syndrome
Accepted Signatures
- Physician (MD or DO)
- Psychologist
- School psychologist
- Government agency rehabilitation counselor or caseworker
Accepted Documentation
- Psychological evaluation
- Psycho/educational evaluation
- Intellectual evaluation
- School IEP
- Diagnostic summary report
- Signed document from a government agency stating the diagnosis
- Proof of benefit documentation from the Social Security Administration (no signature or disability diagnosis required)
Accepted Documented Age
- No set age – most evaluations completed in the school system.
- Unless documentation states that diagnosis requires future reevaluation, the condition is considered permanent.
Developmental disabilities include attention deficit, learning disorder, and other developmental Impairments.
Diagnosis
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
- Reading disorder
- Disorder of written expression
- Mathematics disorder
- Pervasive developmental disorder
- Dyslexia
- Global developmental delay
Accepted Signatures
- Physician (MD or DO)
- Psychologist
- School psychologist
- Government agency rehabilitation counselor or caseworker
Accepted Documentation
- Psychological evaluation
- Psycho/educational evaluation
- Intellectual evaluation
- School IEP
- Diagnostic summary report
- Signed document from a government agency stating the diagnosis
- Proof of benefit documentation from the Social Security Administration (no signature or disability diagnosis required)
Accepted Documented Age
No set age – most evaluations completed in the school system.
Unless documentation states that diagnosis requires future reevaluation, the condition is considered permanent.
Diagnosis
- Bilateral severe hearing loss
- Bilateral profound hearing loss
Accepted Signatures
- Physician (MD or DO)
- Physician Assitant (PA)
- Doctor of Audiology (Au.D)
- Nurse Practitioner (NP)
- Licensed Audiologist (CCC-A or FAAA)
- Certified Audiologist (CCC-A
- Government agency rehabilitation counselor or caseworker
Accepted Documentation
- Medical report
- Diagnostic summary report
- Signed document from a government agency stating the diagnosis
- Proof of benefits documentation from the Social Security Administration (no signature or disability diagnosis required)
Accepted Documented Age
- No set age – most evaluations completed in the school system.
- Unless documentation states that diagnosis requires future reevaluation, the condition is considered permanent.
An intellectual disability includes mental deficiency, borderline intellectual functioning, and intellectual deficits.
Diagnosis
- Intellectual Deficits (Learning Disability)
- Cognitive Deficits
- Mild mental deficiency, FSIQ 50-70
- Moderate mental deficiency, FSIQ 35-49
- Severe mental deficiency, FSIQ 20-34
- Borderline intellectual functioning
- Fragile X syndrome
- Down syndrome
Accepted Signatures
- Physician (MD or DO)
- Psychologist
- School psychologist
- Government agency rehabilitation counselor or caseworker
Accepted Documentation
- Psychological evaluation
- Psychological summary
- Intellectual evaluation
- Intellectual report
- Signed document from a government agency
- Proof of benefits documentation from the Social Security Administration (no signature or disability diagnosis required)
Accepted Documented Age
- No set age – most evaluations completed in the school system.
- Unless documentation states that diagnosis requires future reevaluation, the condition is considered permanent.
Disabilities due to mental illness include bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, depression, anxiety disorder, PTSD, etc.
Diagnosis
- Dementias
- Neurotic disorders
- Personality disorders
- Delusional disorders
- Persistent mental disorders
- Schizophrenic disorders
- Episodic Mood disorders
- Other nonpsychotic mental disorders
Accepted Signatures
- Psychiatrist
- Licensed mental health counselor
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
- Government agency rehabilitation counselor or caseworker
Accepted Documentation
- Psychological evaluation
- Psychiatric evaluation
- Diagnostic summary
- Signed document from a government agency stating the diagnosis
- Proof of benefits documentation from the Social Security Administration (no signature or disability diagnosis required)
Accepted Documented Age
- Must be renewed every 7 years if deemed non-permanent
- New Diagnosis must be not more than 6 months old
Physical disabilities include cerebral palsy, lupus, missing limbs, paralysis, lifting limitations, walking/standing limitations, seizure disorder, and other physical limitations.
Diagnosis
- Cerebral palsy
- Arthritis & rheumatism
- Cardiovascular disease
- Seizure disorder
- Amputation
- Spinal injury
- Lupus
- Type 1 & Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
- Pulmonary disease
- Organ transplant
- Visual impairment (not blind)
- HIV (AIDS)
- Asthma (is considered a disability if it causes functional limitations)
Accepted Signatures
- Physician (MD or DO)
- Physician Assistant (PA)
- Nurse Practitioner (NP)
- Doctor of Podiatry
- Government agency rehabilitation counselor or caseworker
Accepted Documentation
- Medical report
- Diagnostic summary
- Signed document from a government agency stating the diagnosis
- Note: All documentation must detail the physical limitations that support a determination of not capable of competitive employment.
Accepted Documented Age
- Permanent – no updates required.
- Non-permanent – must be updated every 7 years.
- Documents older than 24 months may be maintained if ongoing treatment/follow up validates the original diagnosis.
Diagnosis
- Opioid dependence
- Cannabis dependence
- Alcohol dependence
- Substance dependence disorder
Accepted Signatures
- Physician (MD or DO)
- Physician Assistant (PA)
- Nurse Practitioner
- Licensed Substance Abuse Counselor
- Psychiatrist
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Government agency rehabilitation counselor or caseworker
Accepted Documentation
- Medical report
- Diagnosis summary
- Signed document from a government agency stating the diagnosis
Accepted Documented Age
- Age of documentation must not exceed 7 years.
- Documentation must be renewed every 18-24 months.
Diagnosis
- Traumatic brain injury
- Post-traumatic brain injury
- Cognitive brain deficits
- Hemiparesis
- Mobility deficits
Accepted Signatures
- Physician (MD or DO)
- Physician Assistant (PA)
- Nurse Practitioner (NP)
- Clinical psychologist
- Government agency rehabilitation counselor or caseworker
Accepted Documentation
- Medical report
- Diagnostic summary
- Signed document from a government agency stating the diagnosis
- Proof of benefits documentation from the Social Security Administration (no signature or disability diagnosis required)
Accepted Documented Age
- No set age.
- Unless documentation states that diagnosis requires future reevaluation, the condition is considered permanent.
Diagnosis
- Blind
Accepted Signatures
- Physician (MD or DO)
- Ophthalmologist
- Nurse Practitioner (NP)
- Optometrist
- Government agency rehabilitation counselor or caseworker
Accepted Documentation
- Must document that the individual’s visual acuity and/or field of vision meets the Committee’s definition of blind.
Accepted Documented Age
- No set age – most evaluations completed in the school system.
- Unless documentation states that diagnosis requires future reevaluation, the condition is considered permanent.