How to Register with Student Accessibility Services
While students can register with Student Accessibility Services (SAS) at any point in their program, in some cases it can take significant time to organize academic accommodations. Therefore, students are encouraged to register with SAS as early in their program as possible.
We're here to answer any questions you may have about SAS services, academic accommodations, documentation and the registration process. Contact SAS.
Review documentation requirements
Review the table below on documentation requirements and obtain a copy of your documentation of disability.
The documentation requirements for student disability grants can differ from the requirements for academic accommodations. If you plan to pursue student disability grants, refer to the Additional Requirements for Grants column in the table below.
No documentation available? You can still complete the intake form. Once your intake form is received and processed, SAS will be in touch regarding next steps.
Step 1: Submit intake form and documentation
Complete the Online Intake Form.
The intake form will include an option to upload your documentation. Alternatively, documentation can be emailed, faxed, or dropped off to the SAS office.
- Email: access@ucalgary.ca
- Fax: (403) 210-1063
- If documentation is being faxed directly to SAS by your medical provider, please follow up with SAS to ensure that the fax was received.
- Office: MacEwan Student Centre 452
You must have a UCalgary ID number and UCalgary email address to complete the online intake form. If you are a prospective student to the University of Calgary, please contact SAS for assistance.
Step 2: Meet with an Access Advisor
Once your intake form and documentation are received, SAS will be in contact via your UCalgary email to schedule an intake appointment with an Access Advisor.
You can expect this email 3-5 business days after submission, though these timelines may vary during peak periods.
During the intake appointment, the Access Adviser will lead a self-report interview, review your documentation with you, and discuss any barriers to access you've encountered, or may encounter, during your time at the University of Calgary. The appointment will typically end with a discussion of appropriate accommodations and a review of SAS processes around accommodations.
Please note: Submission of the intake form does not guarantee academic accommodations. Details regarding accommodations will be discussed during the intake meeting with an SAS Access Advisor.
Documentation Requirements
Documentation provided to SAS for the purpose of obtaining accommodations should include the following elements:
- Completed by a practitioner with expertise in the area of the specific disability or health condition.
- Indicate the duration of the disability or condition, such as permanent, persistent/prolonged (expected to last at least 12 months), or temporary. Temporary conditions (e.g., broken limb) should include the date of expected recovery or reevaluation.
- Describe the current impact of the disability or health condition (i.e., functional limitations) on academic performance.
- Documentation must be signed and dated by the practitioner (documentation completed by a Provisional Psychologist must be signed by their supervisor), and include the practitioner's name, title, phone number and address.
Documentation may also include (but is not required to include):
- A specific diagnosis.
- Recommended accommodations which may assist in minimizing the impact of the functional limitations on the student's academic performance.
Please note: an Individualized Program Plan (IPP)/Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or other internal documentation from the K-12 system does not meet the requirements for documentation. Students are advised to connect with their school boards and request a copy of any Psychoeducational Assessments/medical information used to create the IPP/IEP.
See the Additional Requirements for Grants column for more information on the documentation requirements related to applying for student disability grants, as these requirements may differ from documentation requirements for obtaining accommodations through SAS.
| Type of Disability | Documentation Requirements for Accommodations | Additional Requirements for Grants |
|---|---|---|
| ADHD | Psychologist’s report, or Neuropsychological report, or Letter from a psychiatrist, or Letter from a physician with details about the diagnosis, or | Documentation must indicate that the condition is either permanent or persistent/prolonged (i.e., has lasted, or expected to last, for a period of at least 12 months but is not expected to remain with the person for the person's lifetime). A temporary diagnosis is not eligible for funding. |
| Autism | Psychologist’s Report, or Letter from a psychiatrist, or | Documentation must indicate that the condition is either permanent or persistent/prolonged (i.e., has lasted, or expected to last, for a period of at least 12 months but is not expected to remain with the person for the person's lifetime). A temporary diagnosis is not eligible for funding. |
| Blind, Visually Impaired | Specialist’s report (e.g. ophthalmologist, optometrist), or Letter from a physician with a description of the functional limitations, or | Documentation must indicate that the condition is either permanent or persistent/prolonged (i.e., has lasted, or expected to last, for a period of at least 12 months but is not expected to remain with the person for the person's lifetime). A temporary diagnosis is not eligible for funding. |
| Brain Injury/Cognitive Impairment | Neuropsychological report, or Brain injury/cognitive impairment report/assessment, or | Documentation must indicate that the condition is either permanent or persistent/prolonged (i.e., has lasted, or expected to last, for a period of at least 12 months but is not expected to remain with the person for the person's lifetime). A temporary diagnosis is not eligible for funding. |
| Deaf, Hearing Impaired | Audiologist report, or Letter from a physician with an explanation of the degree of hearing loss, or | Documentation must indicate that the condition is either permanent or persistent/prolonged (i.e., has lasted, or expected to last, for a period of at least 12 months but is not expected to remain with the person for the person's lifetime). A temporary diagnosis is not eligible for funding. |
| Learning Disability | Psychoeducational assessment from a psychologist, or Neuro-psychological report | Documentation must be less than 5 years old or completed when student was 18 years of age or older. A physician's diagnosis of a Learning Disability is not acceptable. Documentation must indicate that the condition is either permanent or persistent/prolonged (i.e., has lasted, or expected to last, for a period of at least 12 months but is not expected to remain with the person for the person's lifetime). A temporary diagnosis is not eligible for funding. |
| Mobility | Specialist’s report (e.g. neurologist, neurosurgeon, physiatrist), or | Documentation must indicate that the condition is either permanent or persistent/prolonged (i.e., has lasted, or expected to last, for a period of at least 12 months but is not expected to remain with the person for the person's lifetime). A temporary diagnosis is not eligible for funding. |
| Psychiatric/Psychological | Psychologist’s report with The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) diagnosis, or Letter from a psychiatrist with DSM diagnosis, or Letter from a physician with details about diagnosis including DSM, or | A physician's letter must include a detailed description of the diagnosis, how the diagnosis was arrived at, functional limitations, and detailed information on patient history. Documentation must indicate that the condition is either permanent or persistent/prolonged (i.e., has lasted, or expected to last, for a period of at least 12 months but is not expected to remain with the person for the person's lifetime). A temporary diagnosis is not eligible for funding. |
| Temporary (e.g., broken arm) | Specialist’s report (e.g. neurologist treating a concussion), or Letter from a physician with a description of the functional limitations, or | A temporary diagnosis is not eligible for funding. |
| Other/Chronic Medical Condition | SAS Verification Form | Documentation must indicate that the condition is either permanent or persistent/prolonged (i.e., has lasted, or expected to last, for a period of at least 12 months but is not expected to remain with the person for the person's lifetime). A temporary diagnosis is not eligible for funding. Certain disabilities/conditions may not be eligible for funding consideration. Contact SAS for more information. |
Privacy and Confidentiality Notice
The information you provide to SAS is collected under the authority of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
Information that you provide to SAS, including documentation, will be stored on a secure system, separate from the rest of your student record. This information may be shared among employees of SAS for the purposes of case management and consultation.
Your registration status with SAS may be shared with academic staff and support staff at the University of Calgary for the purpose of providing supports or accommodation.
In rare circumstances, a student’s documentation and diagnosis may need to be shared with staff outside of SAS. Documentation and diagnosis will only be shared when a student has given SAS written permission to do so.
If you have any questions about the collection or use of your information, please contact SAS.