If you request academic accommodations (i.e., tutors, academic support, classroom accommodations, exam accommodations, etc.), you must provide Accessibility Services with current, relevant documentation for your disability. This helps determine your eligibility for services and accommodations and lets us know whether funding may be an option. This documentation must be submitted to our office by the end of the semester a student first registers with us, in order for their accommodations to be carried forward to the next semester. The following forms of documentation may be accepted by our office to receive accommodations and supports only:
- Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) or Individual Support Plan (ISP)
- Psychoeducational Assessment
- Neuropsychological Evaluation
- Detailed medical letter from a licensed professional (i.e., physician, psychiatrist, psychologist)
Proof of disability documentation is required by provincial student aid offices to determine grant eligibility. The following forms of documentation may be accepted by the government:
- Alberta’s Disability Verification Form for Students with Permanent, Persistent or Prolonged Disabilities (each province may have their own disability verification form)
- Psychoeducational Assessment
- Neuropsychological Evaluation
- Detailed medical letter from a licensed professional (i.e., physician, psychiatrist, psychologist)
Documentation must NOT be more than five years old unless the diagnosis is medical and/or developmental in nature or was completed over the age of 18 years.
Documentation informs the accommodations process with recommendations about academic services and technology requirements which may support the student in overcoming academic barriers in a post-secondary setting.
It is essential to provide as much detail as possible on how your disability impacts your ability to fully participate in a post-secondary environment.
Accessibility Services can offer more guidance on the required documentation during your New Student Intake appointment. You can schedule your initial meeting here.
Obtaining New Documentation
The following information is a guideline for individuals seeking updated psychoeducational assessments:
- Students should approach officials in the K-12 system prior to high school completion to obtain an updated psych-ed assessment. If this is not possible, a current assessment through an external assessor may need to be obtained.
- A new or updated assessment can be an expensive investment. However, funding options may be available:
- Self-funded: Students contact a local assessor in Lethbridge or surrounding areas.
- Students eligible for grant funding AND who are diagnosed with a learning disability can apply for reimbursement of the assessment cost (to a maximum of $3,500). Please note the following:
- Applications for reimbursement must be submitted within six months of testing and will be considered only if you remain registered at a post-secondary institution and are diagnosed with a learning disability.
- A receipt and a copy of the assessment must be sent to Student Aid Alberta a minimum of 30 business days before the last day of classes of the term in which the application for reimbursement is made.
- Third-party benefits: Health benefits may cover psychological services and can be used in conjunction with self-funding and/or reimbursement from Alberta Student Aid. Check with Accessibility Services to find out what specific documentation is required for you.
- Seniors, Community and Social Services: Students who demonstrate a lack of other financial resources for funding an educational psychological evaluation to determine if they have a learning disability can be referred to AHS.
- Note: This option can take up to several months to complete.
- If you are applying for or using Alberta Works funding, you must advise your AB Works caseworker regarding your referral to AHS.
If you’re an individual with a permanent, persistent, or prolonged disability other than a learning disability, the (Alberta) Disability Verification Form or a detailed medical letter completed by a licensed professional (i.e., physician, psychiatrist, psychologist) may suffice. Please note that it is essential to provide as much detail as possible on how your disability impacts your ability to fully participate in a post-secondary environment.