Documentation Requirements

Students must provide SAS with current documentation regarding their disability-related needs in order to determine an appropriate accommodation plan. SAS accommodates both permanent and temporary disabilities. It is understood that appropriate documentation occasionally takes time to obtain. We recommend students request documentation from their health professional well before the start of the academic term. Accommodations and appointment times are more limited as the term progresses. 

For all students, documentation must come from an accredited diagnosing health professional experienced in the field of the student’s disability.

 
1) Students with Physical, Mental Health, Sensory or Chronic Health Disabilities:

Students receiving/applying for OSAP are directed to OSAP's website to download the Disability Verification Form. OSAP-eligible students must provide the SAS office with an OSAP Disability Verification Form, completed by a qualified professional.

Students who are not receiving OSAP, please email SAS (sas@trentu.ca) to request a copy of the SAS Disability Documentation Form that is to be completed by a qualified professional. 

Qualified professionals include:

• Physician
• Neurologist
• Audiologist
• Ophthalmologist
• Psychologist
• Psychiatrist
• Neuropsychologist
• Other medical practitioner who is authorized to provide a clinical diagnosis

For students with temporary disabilities, note that SAS may require an annual update of documentation.

2) Students with a Learning Disability:

SAS requires a copy of your latest psycho-educational assessment report, completed by a Registered Psychologist within the last 5 years. Also accepted is a letter from the Psychologist that outlines the functional limitations and recommended accommodations.

An assessment report that was authored more than 5 years ago is acceptable, if the student was at least 18 years old when the assessment was completed.

For students who were assessed when they were younger than 18 years of age, and whose assessment report is more than 5 years old, SAS will typically implement interim accommodations, until such time that the assessment can be updated.

The report must include all of the following:

• A clear statement that the student has a specific learning disability;
• Interview obtaining relevant background information and education records;
• Formal intelligence test;
• Formal measure of academic achievement;
• Formal measure of information processing skills;
• Evidence of functional impairment in academic performance;
• Evidence that identified challenges are not better explained by other conditions or diagnoses; and
• Recommendations and a summary of the areas of need in an academic context.

An IEP may be submitted as part of a student’s documentation; however, this is not sufficient for providing ongoing accommodation at Trent University.

3) Students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD):

SAS requires a medical report from a health professional qualified to provide a diagnosis of ADHD, within the last 5 years. If a student was at least 18 years of age at the time of the assessment, an older report may be provided.

Qualified professionals include:

• Psychiatrist
• Psychologist with ADHD training or Psychological Associate
• Neuropsychologist
• A relevantly trained medical doctor

The report must include recommendations and a summary of the areas of need, in an academic context. A completed OSAP Disability Verification Form (see #1 above) or Disability Documentation Form (see #1 above) are also acceptable forms of documentation for students with an ADHD diagnosis.

Questions? Contact us!