Information from the Washington Association on Postsecondary Education and Disability Documentation position paper on health and physical disabilities.
Students seeking support services from WSU Vancouver on the basis of any disability may be required to provide documentation from a qualified professional to support their request for accommodations. This documentation serves three purposes:
- To establish that the student can be considered a person with a disability, and therefore eligible for protection against discrimination on the basis of disability.
- To supplement information from the student regarding the impact of the disability.
- To support and inform the development of reasonable accommodation (auxiliary aids and services) designed to facilitate equal access to university environments on a case-by-case basis.
Guidelines for specific disabilities
- Health and physical disabilities
- Visual impairment
- Learning disability
- Attention deficit disorder
- Psychiatric disability
What if my existing documentation does not meet the above guidelines?
Submit what you have for review to the Access Center Coordinator. You may be able to receive provisional accommodations while additional documentation is being obtained. If additional documentation is needed, the coordinator can work with you and the diagnostician to clarify what information is needed. If you do not currently have a health care provider that can update documentation, the coordinator can help you identify local providers who may be able to help.
What if I do not have any documentation for my disability and/or health condition?
If you do not have documentation, schedule a meeting with the Access Center coordinator to learn more about relevant assessments and where to obtain them. The Access Center is good a source of advice on what assessments may be helpful.
Documentation should be from a qualified healthcare provider and include:
- Contact information
- License number
- Signature or electronic signature
Disability and medical information is confidential. It is not shared except where disclosure is required by law or is necessary to facilitate legitimate university processes, including granting appropriate accommodations, addressing direct threats, or investigating claims or charges.
Questions or concerns regarding documentation requirements? Contact the Access Center.