Documentation Requirements

Medical documentation detailing the functional impacts of a disability is required for students who wish to register with the Centre for Accessible Learning. Diagnosis of a disability must be made by a health care practitioner for whom it is within their scope of practice to diagnose the condition and who have the necessary expertise to make the diagnosis. Acceptable documentation will:

  • Be sufficiently recent to convey the current impacts of the disability.  At a minimum, documentation will be dated within five years, unless the diagnosis or update occurred after the age of 18. When the impact of a disability is variable or the documentation no longer reflects the current impacts, professional updates may be required.
  • Include the severity, educational impacts and functional impacts of the disability.
  • Include adequate detail of the functional impacts of the disability to enable the Centre to determine appropriate supports and accommodations.
  • Include test or assessment results that were used to inform the diagnosis.
  • Indicate the length of time the student has been under the care of the practitioner.
  • Include the registered health care provider’s credentials, signature, and clinic contact information.

The following professionals can diagnose and provide medical documentation for disabilities as recognized by the BC Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills:

  • Learning disability: a registered clinical psychologist or certified school psychologist
  • Physical or mobility disability: a physician
  • Visual impairment: an ophthalmologist, optometrist or orthoptist
  • Hard of hearing or deaf: a certified audiologist
  • Neurological disability: a neurologist, neuropsychologist, psychiatrist or physician
  • Mental health disability: a clinical psychologist, psychiatrist, or physician with expertise in that area

Documentation does not need to include recommended academic accommodations.  These are determined by review of the educational and functional limitations of a disability, discussion with the student, and context of the academic program and field of study.

If you are unsure if your documentation is sufficient, please inquire when you submit your documentation along with your Summary of Academic Impact form.