Disability Documentation
Documentation
CAL requires current documentation of your medical condition or disability in order to ensure you receive the appropriate accommodations and supports you are entitled to, and to verify the presence of a disability. This requirement is part of SFU’s General Policy 26 and aligns with most post-secondary institutions in BC.
- It is your responsibility to cover any expenses related to obtaining documentation of disability.
- Documentation does not have to be created specifically for SFU. If you have documentation that was obtained for another purpose (e.g., for another institution), CAL can accept a copy if it contains adequate information and meets the requirements outlined in the Centre of Accessible Learning (CAL) Documentation Checklist (pdf).
- If you do not yet have any documentation that meets what is outlined in the CAL Documentation Checklist, you may also ask a qualified assessor (see list below) to complete the CAL Verification of Disability Form
- If you have applied (or are in the process of applying) for disability-based government funding, CAL can accept a copy of your Verification of Disability form specific to your home province. For example, students in British Columbia eligible for permanent disability programs under StudentAid BC can provide a copy of the Verification of Disability form in the StudentAid BC Appendix 8 form (pdf).
Qualified Assessors
The Ministry of Advanced Education and SFU recognize the ability of the following professionals to diagnose and document disabilities and chronic illnesses:
Condition | Qualified Assessor |
Physical/mobility/chronic illness | Physician, Nurse Practitioner |
Visual Disability | Ophthalmologist, Optometrist or Orthoptist |
D/deaf or hard of hearing | Registered Audiologist |
Neurological | Physician, Neurologist, Neuropyschologist or Psychiatrist |
Psychiatric or mental health | Physician or Nurse Practitioner (who has provided consistent and regular care), Registered Psychologist, Psychiatrist |
ADHD | Physician or Nurse Practitioner (who has provided consistent and regular care), Registered/School Psychologist, Psychiatrist |
Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) | Registered Psychologist or Certified School Psychologist |
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) | Pediatrician, Psychiatrist, or Registered Psychologist |