Eligibility for jobs at Didlake, 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 outline by the AbilityOne Program. Different documentation is required for each category of disability.
When preparing your disability documentation please consider the following:
- Didlake is not part of the Federal Government and does not use the Federal Office of Personnel Management procedures. Didlake 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.
- 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.
- Didlake 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, 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.
Autism Spectrum Disorder
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
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
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
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.
Hearing Impaired | Deaf
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
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.
Intellectual Disabilities
An intellectual disability includes mental retardation, borderline intellectual functioning, and intellectual deficits.
Diagnosis
- Intellectual Deficits
- Cognitive Deficits
- Mild mental retardation, FSIQ 50-70
- Moderate mental retardation, FSIQ 35-49
- Severe mental retardation, 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
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.
Mental Illness
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
Accepted Documented Age
- Must be renewed every 18-24 months
- New Diagnosis must be not more than 6 months old
Physical Disability
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
- Pulmonary disease
- Organ transplant
- Visual impairment (not blind)
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 18-24 months.
- Documents older than 24 months may be maintained if ongoing treatment/follow up validates the original diagnosis.
Substance Dependence
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 2 years.
- Documentation must be renewed every 18-24 months.
Traumatic Brain Injury
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
Accepted Documented Age
- No set age.
- Unless documentation states that diagnosis requires future reevaluation, the condition is considered permanent.
Visually Impaired | Blind
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.