Information for Students
Under the Disability Standards for Education 2005, education providers are obligated to make reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities, ensuring they can participate equally in all aspects of university life.
At UNE, we are committed to supporting all students who face barriers to higher education. Our services extend beyond those for students with disabilities and health conditions, aiming to assist individuals in a wide range of circumstances to succeed in their studies.
The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 recognises that disability may be permanent, intermittent or temporary; acquired or lifelong; visible or invisible.
Disclosure
We understand that students often share personal and sensitive information, and we are deeply committed to ensuring privacy and confidentiality. Our practices are guided by relevant State and Commonwealth legislation and UNE’s Privacy Management Plan. Without your explicit permission, we do not disclose the nature of your disability or health condition, except in situations where there is an immediate risk to your safety or the safety of others.
When discussing your needs with UNE staff, we focus solely on the impact of your condition on your academic studies and the reasonable adjustments required to support you.
We acknowledge that disclosure is a deeply personal decision, often bringing both challenges and opportunities.
For more information about disclosure and the factors to consider, please visit the Australian Disability Clearinghouse on Education and Training (ADCET) resource page on Sharing Your Disability Information While Studying.
Reasonable Adjustments
Reasonable adjustments to participate in lectures, tutorials and seminars need to be discussed with each unit coordinator with support from SAWO. They may include:
- Permission to record tutorial and other small sessions (all lectures and many tutorials are available online to review in your own time. Transcripts of lectures can be made available to students.)
- Attendance close to accessible bathrooms
- Level access to venues
- Permission to take guide dog
- Access to lecture theatres with a hearing loop
- Attendance variation
- Height adjustable desk in laboratory spaces
- Use of computer and assistive technology to listen to, participate in and take notes of lectures.
- Use of FM radio, where the lecturer wears a small microphone and FM transmitter that the student provides at the beginning of each lecture/tutorial.
SAWO is unable to provide academic support, such as mentors or participation assistance. If you require academic support, please see the Academic Skills Office. If you are a first-year student, you may also contact a First Year Advisor to talk about academic support services available.
Your Study Access Plan (SAP) may include, where appropriate, reasonable adjustments for assignments and/or timed assessments (myLearn and in-class quizzes), which may include:
- extra time to complete and/or take rest breaks
- alternative assessments
- permissions to manage health conditions, such as checking blood glucose levels or consuming food and drinks
- in-class quiz assistance, such as a reader/scribe/computer
If you would like to use the assignment and/or timed assessment adjustments in your SAP, for each individual assignment or timed assessment/quiz you must request your adjustment before the assignment due date. You will need to contact your unit coordinator or appropriate contact within your school (as per your School’s policy/processes) to request these adjustments.
If you require the use of a reader/scribe or other additional assistance for a quiz, you will need to contact SAWO at least two (2) weeks before the assessment is held, so we can make the necessary arrangements.
Your Study Access Plan (SAP) may include, where appropriate, reasonable adjustments for invigilated online examinations. These will be implemented by the UNE Exams Office. SAP adjustments alongside individuals student exam timetable information are made available to students via MyUNE and should be available by census date of the current trimester.
Your exam adjustments will NOT be reflected in your MyUNE Exams timetable, only in the email you receive from the Exams Office.
Reasonable adjustments may include:
- extra time to complete and/or take rest breaks
- permission to hand-write part of an exam
- permission to use ergonomic equipment
- permission to eat/drink or administer medication
When considering whether to enrol in units that have mandatory intensive schools, please think about the cost and time required to fulfil this requirement. Intensive schools run for full days over several days and cover the trimester’s content of that unit within a very short time. You will need to manage the impact this may have on your health, knowing that all students have to work hard during this time.
Where appropriate, adjustments may include:
- amendments to group work activities
- level access to sessions
- additional short rest breaks
- alternatively formatted handouts
- separate room to manage health systems
- Permission to bring guide dog or carer to sessions
There are accessible toilets on UNE's campus in Armidale.
Some lecture theatres have hearing loops.
Exemption from attendance at mandatory intensive schools is not possible in most cases. If you do not attend the mandatory intensive school, you will incur a Fail (NI) for that unit, unless you withdraw from the unit. Withdrawals after Census or after the last date for withdrawal without academic penalty will incur a HECS liability and/or the academic penalty.
UNE has accommodation on campus available to students; however places are limited so we encourage you to book early. You can request accommodation here .
Most textbooks can be loaned from Dixson Library in e-format. Students with a SAP are eligible for assistance with formatting of study materials. Please contact Dixson Library directly for assistance.
Should you require a textbook in a particular format and this is unavailable, please contact SAWO as soon as possible, so we can have the material converted for you. You will need to have provided supporting documentation to be eligible to have textbooks converted to a particular format.
All students have access to automatic closed captions and can download transcriptions for recorded lectures and tutorials through UNE’s learning portal MyLearn.
Should a student require closed captions and transcriptions that are professionally prepared with an approved accuracy rating, they need to contact SAWO and provide supporting documentation.
In-Class Materials
Should you require material, such as hard copy and PowerPoint presentations, in electronic format, you will need to request these from each unit coordinator in the beginning of the trimester. SAWO does not have access to this material.
For support with academic skills, such as assignment writing and referencing, you should consult the Academic Skills Office.
Assistive Technology
We work with students to utilise inclusive technology and other techniques to access their learning material independently. This is to support students in increasing their independence during and after university studies in the workplace. For example:
Students requiring their readings in a larger font or coloured paper can use available technology on their device to change the layout of their computer.
Students with reading difficulties (for a wide range of reasons) may benefit from text-to-speech technology, such as Dragon Naturally Speaking.
Similarly, students with difficulties writing may work with speech-to-text technology.
Microsoft has a comprehensive and user-friendly resource about tools and systems to assist students with diverse needs .
The Australian Disability Clearinghouse on Education and Training (ADCET) also has an excellent resource on inclusive technology options for specific disabilities.
Reasonable Adjustments – Opening the door for learners with a disability
Inherent Requirements
All students, including students with a Study Access Plan (SAP), must meet the inherent requirements and/or Learning Outcomes of their individual course, as they are fundamental components of each degree.
We strongly encourage both prospective and current students review the inherent requirements and/or Learning Outcomes in the UNE Course Handbook (please make sure to select the correct commencement year at the top of the Catalogue, as you are obliged by the course rules of that year).
Any adjustments throughout your studies are at the discretion of each unit coordinator. In addition, before accepting a course offer, you are responsible for checking the eligibility criteria for registration with professional registration boards.
Student Feedback
"I have told many friends that I would recommend UNE, particularly if they have special needs. I would not have attempted my course if I had not received such excellent support from Special Needs [now SAWO] and Online Exams."
"The [SAWO] Officer advised me of what I needed to do clearly on the phone, and again by email. It's great to have the follow up email in case I missed something on the phone. She also contacted the online exam staff for me, which saved me two calls - a call to them and then back to her. I have been raving to everyone about the support I get at UNE. Special Needs [now SAWO] and online exams have exceeded my expectations every time I need help."
