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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

Intellectual Disabilities

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.

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

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 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
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.

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 7 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

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.

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.

Disability Documentation Requirements

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Developmental Disabilities

Hearing Impaired | Deaf

Intellectual Disabilities

Mental Illness

Physical Disability

Substance Dependence

Traumatic Brain Injury

Visually Impaired | Blind

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