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Student Disability Support

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Photo of Justin Hardman and Robyn Smith (Disability Advisor)

The University of New England (UNE) encourages students with a disability/medical condition to follow their educational and vocational aspirations and is committed to assisting students in this process by implementing reasonable accommodations/adjustments. In line with both state and federal legislation, all reasonable steps will be taken to ensure that students with a disability/medical condition will be able to participate in the courses or programs and to use the facilities and services provided by the UNE on the same basis as a student without a disability/medical condition and without experiencing discrimination.

Contacting the Disability Office

Appointments – Appointments with the Disability Adviser can be made by phoning 02 67732897. You may either phone, or drop in and make the appointment in person. At this time please indicate if you consider your matter will need a long or short appointment, (long appointment 1hour, short appointment ½ an hour). We are unable to make appointments by email.

Telephone appointments can be made if you are unable to attend in person. These appointments can be scheduled for any of the available times during our opening hours to fit in with your work, study or other commitments. To ensure that your enquiry is given the attention required appointments need to be made in advance as the demand for Disability Services is high.

Alternatively, where only brief information is required, you could e-mail your enquiry to disability.unit@une.edu.au in the first instance and we will attempt to assist you in that manner.

What is a disability and/or medical condition?

Visual impairment; hearing impairment; mobility impairment; speech impairment; specific learning disability; psychological or psychiatric conditions; recovery from substance abuse; long-term illness (e.g. cancer, diabetes, AIDS); short-term medical conditions (e.g. glandular fever); short-term physical impairment (e.g. limb fracture); and allergies (eg light or chemical sensitivity).

See http://www.humanrights.gov.au/disability_rights/index.html

How to register as a student with a disability?

All students are given the opportunity, on the Student Enrolment form, to indicate if they have a disability/medical condition, and it is this early indicator that is the catalyst of the more formal Disability/Medical Condition Special Needs Form (SNF) being sent to the student by Student Assist. Students are required to complete a Disability/Medical Condition Special Needs Form annually. A student must return the completed SNF to Student Assist prior to any reasonable accommodations being made. Being a registered student does not necessarily mean that at the time of registering the student requires immediate assistance, in fact, a student may only require assistance during an examination period or a residential school. All students requesting either short or long term assistance must return a completed SNF to Student assist annually making sure that the section from the Medical Practitioner/Registered Health Professional is fully completed. No assistance will be afforded the student until all appropriate documentation has been received.

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Special Needs Form

Download a Memo Word / PDF

Download a Special Needs Form  Word / PDF

Download a Special Needs Amendment Form  Word / PDF

For Semester I, forms need to be received in the Disability Unit no later than 29 February 2008. For those students registering for Semester II, forms will need to be received no later than 8 August 2008.

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Disability Card ***NEW****

2008 will see the introduction of the Disability Card. Once a completed Special Needs Form, along with the necessary supporting documentation, and the signed Student Agreement for Reasonable Accommodations has been received by the Student Assist Disability Office, the student will be issued with the card.

As the issue of the wallet size card is not compulsory, it is up to the individual student to decide if he/she wishes to be issued with the card. It will also be up to the student to decide to whom they should disclose that they have a disability and/or medical condition. The card is intended to assist students when requesting possible adjustments from Unit Coordinators, requesting photocopies from the library or assistance in retrieving books from shelves, etc. It is important to realize that when negotiating adjustments, students are aware that they must complete the inherent requirements of the specific units; therefore, the card is not intended to be used in a way that will allow the registered student to obtain an advantage over other students. Students seen to be misusing the card run the risk of having the card withdrawn and this may lead to possible delays in having adjustments or accommodations met in a timely manner.

There are two categories mentioned on the card—Group A relates to students with a permanent disability or medical condition, and Group B relates to students with a temporary disability or medical condition. For Group A students, the card is for use only during the year of issue, and for Group B students, the card is for use during the period stated on the back of the card. If however, the student’s temporary condition goes on longer than stated on the card a new card will be issued to cover the extension of dates. Responsibilities for Students:

• arrange a time to collect the card, in person, at the Student Assist office.

• if the student receiving lectures notes, then the card must be shown when requested by Student Assist staff, as proof of identity, prior to notes being issued over the counter.

• if the student wishes to use the Disability Resource Room (DRR), located in Dixson Library, again the card must be shown as proof of identity prior to the DRR key being issued for that session.

• it is the responsibility of the student to make sure the card is current.

• if an attempt to negotiate adjustments, such as an extension, has been unsuccessful, the student should contact the Disability Adviser for advice.

 

Peer Note Takers

A peer note taker is a student who attends the same lecture/s as a person with a disability who may not be able to take their own lecture notes. The note taker is paid a minimal fee for presenting their notes to Student Assist for photocopying on a weekly basis. The peer note taker will receive $10.00 per lecture hour and an additional $5.00 for each additional photocopy (excluding file copy) taken by the Studnt Assist. Note takers must :

• Provide reliable semester contact details to Student Assist

 • Be prepared to contact Student Assist when requested to do so

 • Complete all necessary documentation as directed by Student Assist staff

• Take copies of lecture notes only to Student Assist, for photocopying, on a weekly basis

 • Ensure that notes, although only memory joggers, are kept to a reasonable quality throughout

Delivery of notes on cessation of a Residential School will be by prior arrangement with the Disability Adviser. Note takers are expected to be punctual for lectures, and therefore must notify the Disability Adviser of any impending absences, unit changes or withdrawals.

Recipients must :

 • Complete a current Disability/Medical Condition Special Needs Form, with supporting documentation from a Medical Practitioner/Registered Health Professional, prior to being eligible for this service.

• Complete all necessary documentation relating to the request for a note taker.

 • Notify the Disability Adviser of any impending absences as soon as possible.

 • Collect photocopied notes from the Student Assist office within one month of the lecture being held. If notes are not collected this service may be ceased.

• Attend lectures--Notes are not a substitute for attending lectures.

• Notify the Disability Adviser if withdrawing from a Unit, or changing a Unit.

For students with a temporary disability/medical condition the Disability Adviser must be informed of any changes in circumstances as soon as possible. For temporary disabilities/medical conditions, the note taker service will cease two weeks after the cessation of the current medical certificate.

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Attending Residential Schools

Many external units have compulsory or mandatory residential schools, and there are generally four residential school periods throughout the year. Information relating to attendance at reidential schools is provided in the learning material sent to students and is also listed in the Schedule of Units or Unit Descriptions by Unit Code for each faculty in the Handbooks, Directories and Schedules of Units page located at:

http://www.une.edu.au/studentcentre/schedules.htm

Full timetable details for residential schools are finalised close to the time of the school, and timetables are available through timetabling two weeks before the commencement of the residential school period. The web site is:

http://www.une.edu.au/timetables/

If a student has a disability and/or a medical condition, and requires support during residential schools, they must firstly complete a Disability/Medical Condition Special Needs Form ensuring that the report from the Medical Practitioner/Registered Health Professional is fully completed. This form must be received by the Disability Adviser prior to any support being afforded the student. All students registered with the Disability Adviser and requiring assistance during a residntial school must confirm their attendance with the Disability Adviser a minimum of four (4) weeks prior to the commencement of their residential school. There may be occasions when this length of notification is not possible, i.e. a student may have had an accident a day or two prior to the commencement of the Residential School.

For accomodation please see http://www.une.edu.au/accommodation/externals.php You can email eao@une.edu.au or Phone (02) 6773 3370

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AUSLAN Interpreters

Students requiring an AUSLAN Interpreter must contact the Disability Adviser at least eight (8) weeks prior to the commencement of the Residential School. External contractors are engaged, and as they organise for both the interpreter and the note taker it is necessary to allow additional time.

Equipment Requests

Students requesting specific equipment should contact the Disability Adviser to arrange a time for collection prior to the commencement of lectures. If a Residential School commences on a weekend, then the student will need to arrange for the equipment to be made available at a location other than the Equity Office. The student will be required to complete and sign a Student Agreement to Borrow Equipment form and to read and acknowledge the Terms and Conditions of Borrowing Equipment. The student may be liable for any breakage or loss of equipment borrowed. Equipment is to be checked and signed back into the Equity Office prior to the student's departure from campus. The student who signed for the equipment will be responsible for it, and therefore expected to take care not to damage or lose it. The equipment is not to be taken off campus at the cessation of the Residential School. If equipment is damaged in any way during the Residential School, the student whose signature appears on the Request to Borrow Equipment Form, is to report the incident to the Disability Adviser as soon as the damage is noticed. If it is at all possible replacement equipment will be issued, however, this will only occur if spare equipment is available on campus. Lost or stolen equipment must be reported by the student, whose signature appears on the Request to Borrow Equipment Form, to the Disability Adviser as soon as the event is apparent. If the student is staying in College, the incident should also be reported to the College Office, and to Security Office. If it is at all possible replacement equipment will be issued, however, this will only occur if spare equipment is available on campus.

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Submission of Assignments

Requesting an Extension of Time

The student should follow the procedures set down in their course material for the relevant unit. Further, the student should note that extensions are not usually granted where requests are made after the assignment due date has passed. It is therefore imperative that the request for an extension be submitted as soon as the student realises that it may not be possible to submit the assignment by the due date. If the student encounters difficulties relating to their disability, they should discuss the matter with the Disability Advisor. If extensions are required after the end of semester you must complete an application for a Special Extension of Time.  Applications are available at http://www.une.edu.au/exams/app-special-extension.pdf

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Disability Resource Room - Dixon Library

The Resource Room in Dixson Library is available to all students with a disability/medical condition who are currently registered with the Disability Unit. The room is accessible during library opening hours. For security reasons this room is locked, and students are required to sign in at the Information Desk in Dixson Library where a temporary key will be issued. Students return the key once they have completed using the room.

Equipment/Software Available Computer with Windows XP, latest version of Jaws, internet connection and scanner installed 2 x Reading Edge Machines 1 x Magnifier Computer with Windows XP, Dragon Naturally Speaking, internet connection and scanner installed Assistance Available All enquiries relating to computer issues need to be referred to the Help Desk on extension 5000. All other enquiries should be referred to Student Assist on extension 2897. Maintenance of Equipment If students feel that a computer is not functioning correctly they should contact Student Assist on extension 2897.

Damaged, "Missing" or Stolen Equipment To minimise theft, all equipment is secured to the current Dixson Library alarm system. If a student believes that equipment is missing or has been damaged they should contact the Disability Adviser. Student Responsibilities Students must ensure that:

 • they sign the log book at the Dixson Library Information Desk where they will then be issued with a temporary key

• when they leave the room, the door is locked and the key is returned to the Information Desk by the student who originally signed for it. The time of return will be recorded in the log book

• the key is not to be passed on from student to student without going through the sign on/off procedures

• all maintenance issues are to be reported to the Disability Adviser as soon as possible so that timely repairs might be carried out

• access to the room may be limited, or even withdrawn if a student does not use this room for the purposes intended, ie. the room is not intended for a place for a group of friends to gather

• a fellow student, who may be accompanying a student with a disability, should not use other disability allocated equipment, unless it is to assist the student who has a disability

• they are respectful, at all times, of the rights of other students using this room

• under no circumstances are students to remove the Resource Room key from Dixson Library

If you would like to know about other services the library provides for people with disabilities click here.

Examinations

Alternative formats may include:

• Additional time less than 20 minutes per hour for an invigilated examination

 • Coloured paper

• Use of a computer. Note: computers are not available for off campus use and students may need to provide their own.

• Enlarged print

• Transcription into Braille

• AUSLAN interpreter

• Alternate venue

 • Provision of a reader or scribe

 • Oral examination

Requesting Support Support for a student's request will only be considered when the student has returned a completed Disability/Medical Condition Special Needs Form to the Disability Unit.

Students must remember that the information supplied by the medical practitioner/registered health professional must be supportive of the type of alternate format/s being sought. For instance, if you have a broken leg, and no other known disability/medical condition, a request for coloured A3 paper would not be supported. The Disability Unit may wish to consult with the student to confirm that what has been requested will in fact meet the needs of the individual student.

Confidentiality

The medical information received by the Disability Unit will remain within the Unit and will only be released to relevant University staff on a needs-to-know basis. Refer to the http://une.edu.au/rmo/default.htm for further information. Notification The Disability Unit will formally notify the student of the outcome of their request, keeping in mind the following timeframes:

 • Students studying in Australia, within two (2) weeks of the form being received at the beginning of each semester

• Maximum of four (4) weeks of the forms being received during the semester.

• Students studying overseas, within four-six weeks of the form being received It is important for students to note that every effort will be made by staff to ensure a prompt reply to students; however, there will be no guarantee that the accommodations will be met for the next examination period.

Course materials in Alternative Formats

Due to the varying degree of the special needs of individual students it may be necessary to provide all or some of the course material in alternate format. Some of these formats may be as simple as providing material on coloured paper or enlarging the print. However, there are times when a book is required to be in electronic form, or may need to be translated into Braille, and these requests require lengthy lead times which could be as long at three (3) months. Other material which is requested in either audiotape or CD format may also take some time to produce. E-BOOKS Dixson Library has purchased a small selection of new electronic books available through Ebook Library (EBL), a new e-book hosting and lending platform that delivers electronic copies of academic texts. EBL offers texts across all subject areas, and users can read the texts online or offline. Titles which have been purchased by UNE can be 'borrowed' by readers, and several users can access the same title concurrently. Prospective readers even can browse the text for a limited time before deciding to borrow. Likewise, titles not purchased yet by UNE can be browsed by academics for selection purposes. If the student requires an e-book which needs to be ordered from an external provider the lead time from placing the request to delivery may be quite substantial. It is therefore necessary for the student to advise the Disability Unit as soon as possible.

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Disclosure

Disclosure of a disability presents a number of challenges and choices for people with a diabaility, particularly those participating in education and employment.  For more information go to http://www.uws.edu.au/rdlo/disclosure  This website provides information about options and pathways that people with disabilities can use in disclosing their disability in post secondary education and employment environments.  Download our Privacy Statement Word / PDF

Where a student has not disclosed a disability, teaching and other staff are not responsible for providing educational education related adjustments. It is not the responsibility of staff to justify why no education related adjustments were provided during the period when the student had not disclosed their disability.

Guidelines for Medical Practitioners

In order to provide reasonable accommodations a student is asked to provide the University with information from their treating medical practitioner or specialist confirming their disability or special needs and supporting appropriate study accommodations.

Specific information about requirements is available here in Word of PDF

Useful Links

Academic Skills Office http://une.edu.au/tlc/aso/

Dixon Library http://une.edu.au/library/

http://www.accessibility.com.au/

http://www.centrelink.gov.au/internet/internet.nsf/payments/disability_support.htm

The Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaCSIA) is responsible for social policies and support affecting Australian society and the living standards of Australian families.  FaCSIA provide services and assistance that help people with disabilities to participate actively in community and economic life, access a responsive and sustainable safety net, and develop their capabilities. http://www.facsia.gov.au/internet/facsinternet.nsf/disabilities/nav.htm

http://www.humanrights.gov.au/disability_rights/index.html  The Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission. Here you can find a range of resources and links on disability discrimination and other human rights and disability issues.

The Multicultural Disability Advocacy Association of NSW (MDAA) is the peak body for people from a non-English speaking background (NESB) with disability and their families and carers in NSW. http://www.mdaa.org.au/

http://www.pwd.org.au/ People with Disability Australia Incorporated is a national peak disability rights and advocacy organisation.

http://www.pdcnsw.org.au/  The Physical Disability Council of NSW Inc (PDCN) is the peak body in NSW representing people with physical disability across the state. PDCN's overall purpose is to provide a state-wide voice for people with a physical disability living in NSW.

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Special Needs Information Booklet

Download a copy of the Special Needs Information Booklet Word / PDF