The Art Institute of Seattle Policy Regarding Documentation of Physical/Health Disability 

Students who are seeking accommodations from The Art Institute of Seattle on the basis of a diagnosed physical disability are required to submit documentation to verify eligibility. Documentation of a physical disability consists of a typed or written letter/medical documentation that addresses specific academic needs of the student. The cost and responsibility for providing this information shall be borne by the student.

The following guidelines are provided in the interest of assuring the letter is appropriate for documenting eligibility. Documentation presented to the Disabilities Director will remain in a private confidential file in the Director's office. The Director is available to consult with physician(s) regarding these guidelines.

The letter should:

1. Be prepared by a licensed professional (e.g. physician, audiologist, ophthalmologist, etc). Additional information may be necessary from other physicians or from other allied health care providers, such as but not limited to physical therapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, speech pathologists, etc.
   
2. Be comprehensive. The documentation should provide sufficient data to support the particular academic adjustment(s) requested. Since the documentation provided constitutes the basis for determining reasonable accommodations, it is in a student's best interest to provide recent and appropriate documentation to serve as the basis for decision making about a student's need for accommodations in an academically competitive environment.
   
3. The letter should be on professional letterhead, signed, and include the licensed professional's title, license number, address, and phone number.
   
4. Present clear and specific evidence, which identifies the individual's disability/condition, present level of functioning and how the studentÕs education may be impacted.
   
5. Provide sufficient data to support the particular academic adjustment(s) requested. The documentation should demonstrate the individual has a disability as defined in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Requests that are not supported by documentation may not be approved without additional verification.

If you have further questions, please contact:
Karen Ehnat, Director of Disability Services
206-239-2308 / Toll free 1-800-275-2471 ext. 2308 kehnat@aii.edu