1. Philip V. Magalong, Ed.D. Director, Disability Support Services The Catholic University of America

2.  Disability-related information (DRI) should be handled under the same strict rules of confidentiality as other medical information.  DRI should be collected and maintained on separate forms and kept in secure files with limited access.  DRI should be shared only on a limited basis within the CUA community.

3.  DRI is clearly medical in nature, and must remain confidential as required by Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act.  Stigma.  DRI must be guarded. By keeping all information equally protected is conservative, safe, and is a legally acceptable practice.

4.  Designated office’s on campus are assigned the responsibility for collecting and holding DRI and medical records…Counseling Center, Disability Support Services, Student Health Services, and Dean of Students.  Information regarding a student’s disability should be shared by those who hold the documentation on a limited basis, and only when there is a compelling reason.

5.  Unnecessary disclosure of DRI or medical records, without a legal right to know, may expose CUA to charges of retaliation or harassment. It would be a violation of FERPA and ADA.  Interoffice communication regarding a student with a disability should not be placed in shared files. Email listing multiple addresses, may lead to a violation of confidentiality by revealing names of students.