Eligibility and Documentation

Eligibility

Services are offered to students with permanent (or persistent or prolonged) disabilities such as:

Chronic health disabilities
Hearing disabilities
Physical disabilities
Mental health disabilities
Neurological disabilities (including ADD/ADHD and learning disabilities)
Visual disabilities

Accessibility Services will also assess students who have a documented temporary disability and provide assistance and/or referral. Appropriate documentation must be provided to determine eligibility for academic accommodations and support services.

Documentation

Students with disabilities requesting academic accommodations and support services must provide appropriate documentation. Please make an appointment with us. We can help determine the specific documentation requirements and format you require.

Langara College requires documentation from students with disabilities who request services and/or accommodations through Accessibility Services. The documentation will be used to determine reasonable accommodations to meet individual student’s needs in accordance with Langara College’s Academic Accommodation for Students with Disabilities Policy (E1005) and Academic Accommodation for Students with Disabilities Procedures.

All documentation must be current (usually no more than three (3) years; or five (5) years for Psycho-educational (Learning Disability/Disorder) Assessments if completed before the age of 18), and conform to the BC Ministry of Advanced Education’s definitions and standards.

New or updated documentation may be required when the student’s functional limitation(s) have shown significant change or when the student’s accommodation request(s) have changed.

All documentation is collected, used, disclosed, secured, and disposed of in accordance with the BC Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA).

Students must provide written documentation of the following:

Diagnosis (DSM-IV or DSM 5, if applicable) of the disability
Symptom(s)
Functional limitation(s) and/or impact of the disability within the post-secondary setting (including medication side effects, if applicable)
Timelines for recovery (if disability is temporary)
Recommendations for accommodations

Depending on the nature of the student’s disability, Accessibility Services may determine that some additional, more specific information is required.

Please refer to the table below to determine the appropriate medical professional for official documentation.

Medical Professional: a qualified (certified/licensed) medical assessor (e.g., audiologist, ophthalmologist, neuropsychologist, neurologist, nurse practitioner, physician, psychologist, or psychiatrist registered to practice in the Canadian province or territory where the assessment is undertaken), and who has expertise in the diagnosis of the condition(s) for which the accommodation(s) and/or service(s) are being requested.

Type of Disability	Medical Professional
Visual	Ophthalmologist, Optometrist, or Orthoptist
Hearing	Certified Audiologist
Mental Health	Registered Psychologist (with clinical designation), Psychiatrist, Physician, or Nurse Practitioner
Neurological	Neurologist, Psychiatrist, Physician, or Nurse Practitioner
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (neurological)	Registered Psychologist (with clinical designation), Psychiatrist, or Physician with specialized training
Chronic Health or Physical	Physician or Nurse Practitioner
Learning Disability/Disorder (neurological)	Registered Psychologist, or Certified School Psychologist (employed by a provincially funded school board/college/university at the time of the learning disability assessment. BC Certified School Psychologists conducting LD assessments outside of their employment role/situation [i.e., in private practice] will not be recognized as having met Ministry criteria for qualified assessors).

Acceptable Documentation Formats

Depending on the nature of the disability, documentation must be provided in the following formats:

Verification of Disability (Permanent or Persistent/Prolonged) (Section 4) of the Student Aid BC Disability Programs Application Form (Appendix 8):
- Appendix 8 for for Full-Time Students
- Appendix 8 for Part-Time Students
- Above forms are also available from Accessibility Services
Neuropsychological report
Audiogram and audiologist report
Letter from the appropriate medical professional
Psycho-educational (Learning Disability/Disorder) Assessment
Documentation Guidelines for Students with Learning Disabilities / Specific Learning Disorders: In accordance with the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills guidelines.

Prolonged disability programs

Please check with the Ministry directly StudentAid BC for the most up-to-date documentation requirements, should you wish to apply for permanent or persistent/prolonged disability programs/funding.

Required documentation: A Psycho-educational (Learning Disability/Disorder) Assessment: That is less than five (5) years old. OR Was performed after the age of 18 (some exceptions may apply).
Assessment Criteria: The assessment must be complete, signed, dated and include the dates of testing, the name and credentials of the assessor, and typed on official letterhead. The assessment must meet DSM-IV or DSM-5 criteria, including a clear diagnosis of a learning disability or specific learning disorder.
Appropriate medical professional (qualified assessor): Registered Psychologist OR Certified School Psychologist (employed by a provincially funded school board/college/university at the time of the learning disability assessment. BC Certified School Psychologists conducting LD assessments outside of their employment role/situation (i.e., in private practice) will not be recognized as having met Ministry criteria for qualified assessors).

**If your assessment is outdated or does not meet criteria, please meet with an Accessibility Services Consultant to discuss documentation requirements and possible documentation funding options.

Construction Notice | 49th Avenue

Academic Support Eligibility and Documentation

Eligibility

Documentation

Type of Disability

Medical Professional

So great to see you here!