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Documentation Guide

Welcome to Student Accessibility Services! We provide academic accommodations and related supports for students with disabilities at McMaster.

Learning disabilities and autism spectrum disorders

  • Documentation: Full psycho-educational assessment, memory assessment (if memory aids are required)
  • Timeframe: Within the last five years (older documentation considered on a case-by-case basis)
  • Source: Psychiatrist, psychologist or psychological associate

More information: Ontario Psychological Association Guidelines for Diagnosis and Assessment of Children, Adolescents, and Adults with Learning Disabilities

Attention-deficit or hyperactivity disorders (ADD/ADHD)

  • Documentation: Psycho-educational assessment, medical report (outlining history and areas of weakness, strength), memory assessment (if memory aids are required)
  • Timeframe: Within the last five years (older documentation considered on a case-by-case basis)
  • Source: Psychiatrist, psychologist or psychological associate, family physician

More information: Ontario Psychological Association Guidelines for Diagnosis and Assessment of Children, Adolescents, and Adults with Learning Disabilities

Mental health disability

  • Documentation: Student Accessibility Services form, mental health assessment, doctor’s letter, memory assessment (if memory aids are required)
  • Timeframe: Within the last five years (older documentation considered on a case-by-case basis)
  • Source: Neurologist, neuropsychologist, family physician, psychiatrist, psychologist

Acquired brain injury (ABI)

  • Documentation: Neuropsychological assessment
  • Timeframe: Within the last five years (older documentation considered on a case-by-case basis)
  • Source: Neurologist, neuropsychologist

Blind or visually impaired

  • Documentation: Doctor’s letter, Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) registration number (if legally blind)
  • Timeframe: CNIB registration date (if legally blind) or within the last five years (older documentation considered on a case-by-case basis)
  • Source: CNIB ophthalmologist (if legally blind), optometrist, family physician

Deaf or hard of hearing

  • Documentation: Full audiology report, doctor’s letter
  • Timeframe: Within the last five years (older documentation considered on a case-by-case basis)
  • Source: Audiologist, family physician

Central auditory processing disorder

  • Documentation: Audiology report
  • Timeframe: Within the last five years (older documentation considered on a case-by-case basis)
  • Source: Audiologist, family physician

Chronic medical condition or physical disability

  • Documentation: Student Accessibility Services form, mental health assessment, doctor’s letter
  • Timeframe: Within the last five years (older documentation considered on a case-by-case basis)
  • Source: Family physician, specialist physician