The EAC uses AHEAD’s Guidance on Documentation Practices (linked) to support the documentation process. Through this process, documentation is viewed as (1) the student’s self-report (2) documentation from an external source (i.e., external documentation), and (3) observations and interactions.
For a more detailed description of the documentation guidelines outlined below, please see the Documentation Guidelines (Further Explained; linked). Students are welcome to share either of these pages with their provider.
Student’s Self Report
Students are a critical source of information regarding their experience of disability, barriers, and accommodations history. The self report is shared primarily during the student’s intake meeting. Students will engage in an Interactive Process during their intake meeting and be prepared to discuss their: disability, strengths, barriers, assistive technology used, skills and strategies used, and effective and ineffective accommodations.
External Documentation: Academics
Supporting external documentation should provide information on the impact of the student’s disability in order to identify appropriate accommodations.
Common sources of external documentation include: healthcare providers, psychologists, licensed counselors, and diagnosticians. Copies of accommodations approved from previous schools (for example, 504 plans, IEPs, eligibility reports, and/or previous postsecondary education or employment accommodations) can be included as documentation but may not be independently sufficient.
Suggested documentation elements the EAC is typically looking for:
- State the disability or disabilities.
- Describe the impact or symptoms of the disability.
- If appropriate, discuss the severity and/or expected progression.
- If relevant, medication side effects.
- Any recommended accommodations or history of accommodations.
In some instances, specific documentation elements will be requested to make an informed decision on if the student qualifies for a requested accommodation.
External Documentation: Housing and Dining
Housing and dining accommodations are determined for students with disabilities on a case-by-case basis. Before approving students for housing or dining accommodations, students must submit reliable documentation verifying their disability and the disability-related need for the requested accommodation. Reliable documentation includes a disability determination from a government agency (e.g., a local education agency) or a note from a licensed healthcare care professional. The documentation must verify that the student’s condition meets the definition of a disability and describes the relationship between the disability and the accommodation they are requesting.
If the disability is readily apparent (e.g., blind, deaf, or in a wheelchair) and the accommodation request relates to the readily apparent disability, the student may not require external documentation.
Emotional Support Animals in Campus Housing
Before approving students for a support animal, the EAC will need to verify the disability and the disability-related need for a support animal through reliable documentation.
The student’s health care provider may fill out the Support Animal Verification form (linked) or write a letter stating that the student has a disability and a disability-related need for a support animal by explaining one or more identified symptoms the support animal will improve.
Certifications, registrations, and other documentation purchased over the internet is not considered reliable documentation and will not be accepted.
Boise State University Health Services does not provide letters for support animals. To obtain documentation, students must contact their community primary care provider or contact a community mental health provider. University Health Services has a list of community mental health providers (linked) on their website.
Submitting Documentation
Students have many options for submitting documentation. Please choose the option that is best for you.
Submit to the EAC Directly
Students may choose to submit documentation directly. This can be done by either bringing a copy of documentation to the EAC for our staff to scan and upload into your Access Portal for you, or by faxing documentation to us. Both students and their providers may fax documentation. The EAC fax number is 208-473-2984.
Submit with a Request for Services
Once students complete the Request for Services, a page within the same window will open with an opportunity to submit documentation. Students may upload their documentation there.
Students also receive a confirmation email upon submission of the request. In that confirmation email is a link to upload documentation. However, once the student schedules their intake and their application is transferred to a profile within the Access Portal, the link will no longer be active for documentation submission.
Upload to the Access Portal
Once the student’s Request for Services application has been transferred to a user profile (which occurs at the time of scheduling the intake), students may upload documentation there. To upload documentation into the Access Portal, please follow the following steps:
- Sign-in to the Access Portal (linked) using your Boise State username and password
- On the left toolbar, select “Home”
- Under “Home,” select “Documentation Files”
- Click “Submit Documentation Files” and upload your documentation there.
- Your coordinator will be notified that documentation has been submitted and will follow-up with you.