Disability Support Services looks forward to helping students explore services, supports and accommodation assistance. To learn more, drop by our office at North Idaho College, Seiter Hall, Room 100 at NIC’s Coeur d’Alene campus .
To Receive Accommodations
Students should begin by submitting an application through the AIM Student Portal. Please select the category that best fits your situation (you might need to apply for multiple categories depending on your needs).
Please fill this form out as thoroughly as possible as this will help us prepare for your appointment and avoid any delays. It also gives you the opportunity to take time to share your information without having to think "on the spot" about questions that might be asked.
Housing Access Application
Students who need disability-related housing accommodations are encouraged to submit their requests as early as possible. Early submission allows Disability Support Services and Housing adequate time to review the request, coordinate approved accommodations, and identify available housing options that meet the student’s approved needs.
Students must complete the housing application and required housing deposit in order to be considered for housing placement. Approved housing accommodations are coordinated with Housing and are provided based on available appropriate housing options and the order in which completed housing applications are received.
If a student is approved for a housing accommodation but an appropriate housing option is not available, the student may be placed on a housing waitlist until an appropriate space becomes available. If an appropriate space cannot be provided, the student may request a refund of the housing deposit without penalty.
Submitting a housing accommodation request does not guarantee a particular room, building, or housing assignment. Students are encouraged to submit both their housing application and accommodation request as early as possible.
Academic Accommodation Documentation Requirements
During the application process, you will be asked to upload documentation of your disability.
Acceptable documentation may include:
- IEP or 504 Plans
- Notes or letters from a qualified medical professional
- Screenshots from an online medical portal showing diagnosis and identifiable information
- Visit summaries or similar medical records
- Veterans Administration documents showing disability
- Social Security Disability information if diagnosis is stated
- Vocational Rehabilitation documentation showing diagnosis or functional limitations
Some diagnoses or accommodation requests may require more specific or current information. This can be discussed during your intake appointment. If you have questions about what to submit, please contact us—we are happy to help.
If you are unable to provide documentation, please upload a Word/PDF document explaining any barriers you are facing in obtaining documentation. This will allow you to submit your application, and our office can assist with resources to obtain documentation and/or determine if temporary accommodations may be appropriate.
Do not let lack of documentation prevent you from reaching out for help!
ESA Documentation Requirements
Your ESA documentation should be written on official letterhead and include:
- Date of the letter
- Your diagnosis, as relevant to the accommodation request
- How an ESA is part of your current treatment plan
- The provider’s name, credentials, and contact information
Housing Accommodation Documentation Requirements
Disability Support Services (DSS) reviews housing accommodation requests on an individualized, case-by-case basis. Documentation should provide enough information for DSS to understand the student’s disability-related functional limitations, the barriers those limitations create in the residential environment, and the connection between the disability and the requested accommodation.
Documentation may include information from a qualified professional who is familiar with the student and the impact of their disability. Depending on the request, appropriate documentation may include:
- A statement or letter from a licensed or otherwise qualified healthcare or mental health professional.
- Diagnostic or evaluation reports.
- Information from a previous disability services provider.
- Other reliable information that helps establish the disability-related need for the requested accommodation.
Documentation should, when applicable, address:
- Disability or Diagnosis information – Information sufficient to establish the presence of a disability.
- Functional limitations – A description of how the disability affects the student in the residential environment.
- Housing-related barrier – An explanation of the disability-related barrier the student experiences or is likely to experience in standard campus housing.
- Requested accommodation – The accommodation being recommended or requested.
- Disability-related need – An explanation of how the requested accommodation addresses the identified disability-related barrier.
A diagnosis alone or a general statement that an accommodation would be beneficial may not be sufficient to establish the need for a specific housing accommodation.
DSS does not require students to provide unnecessary medical records or detailed information about the nature or severity of a disability. Additional information may be requested when the information provided does not allow DSS to determine the disability-related need for the requested accommodation.
Students are encouraged to submit documentation and requests as early as possible. Documentation may be submitted with the housing accommodation request or provided separately through the DSS documentation process.
Next Steps
Once we receive your completed application, our staff will contact you to let you know if we need any further information or to schedule an intake appointment with an Access Specialist. During this meeting, we will discuss your disability-related barriers and explore reasonable accommodations. Please watch your NIC student email for communication from our office.
If you prefer a paper application or need assistance, drop by our office or contact Disability Support Services at (208) 769-5947 or dss@nic.edu.