Documentation:
Documentation can be uploaded to the STUDENT PORTAL during or after application submission, or submitted via email to [email protected].
UCSF Student Disability Services requires students to provide the following documentation to our office by a licensed professional before providing accommodations:
- diagnosis of condition
- definition of the functional limitations the student will experience in an academic and/or clinical environment
- recommendation for reasonable accommodations
Such documentation assists SDS in providing the most appropriate and reasonable accommodations and support.
The documentation provided by the student is considered confidential in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Please read the FERPA language carefully, as there are instances when student documentation must be released without consent.
Documentation Guidelines by Type of Condition
UCSF students are required to present documentation related to a variety of disabilities and other conditions requiring accommodation. Please follow the links below for guidelines on these condition types:
*** NOTE *** These contain fillable forms, but must be opened in Adobe Acrobat or Reader to do so — not fillable in your browser***
Learning Disabilities
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Psychological Conditions
Medical or Physical
Sensory Impairments
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Documentation that does not meet all of the listed standards may still be considered sufficient for the student to receive limited accommodations if the documentation is submitted together with evidence of an uninterrupted period of accommodations from another academic institution.
Note that board and licensing agencies frequently require more extensive documentation than the level required by SDS for accommodations. It is important to check with each testing agency for specific documentation requirements so that there will be time to obtain additional testing if needed.
Regarding emotional support animals (ESAs) FOR UCSF HOUSING ONLY:
Please note that the SDS does not accept letters from the numerous (often online) companies or individuals who purport to offer verification or certification of an emotional support animal in exchange for a fee. There are no Federal or State recognized "certifications" or certificates of emotional support animals; these are all unofficial and have no standing in regards to the legitimacy of an ESA.
To warrant approval of a request for an emotional support animal, a requestor should be prepared to submit documentation that describes the needed accommodation or modification, and shows the relationship between the individual's disability and how the requested accommodation or modification is necessary to afford the individual with a disability equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling or housing opportunity. Verification and recommendation of an ESA must come from a licensed provider, qualified to both diagnose and treat the condition in question, and with which the requestor has, or has recently had, an ongoing therapeutic relationship (as per CA state law, this is a minimum of 30 days).
Please reach out to SDS before paying any fees related to the provision of ESA verification paperwork, as legitimate providers should not be asking for a separate fee for this service. If you have had to change providers upon moving the Bay Area, a recent, former therapist that meets the aforementioned criteria is fine as well. If there are any questions please contact SDS directly.