Students with disabilities
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Mental health and
students - In a nutshell - 5 minute overview - Cultural issues and mental health - In a nutshell - 5 minute overview
UniSA has a commitment to providing an accessible learning environment for students with disabilities which is detailed in policy. Teaching staff play a key role in creating an accessible learning environment through the use of
- Inclusive teaching practices
- Accommodating the needs of individual students with disabilities
- Disability Action Plan process
- Referral of students to disability services
- Confidentiality of student information
This an area of teaching responsibility where staff have a legal obligation to their students. Human Rights & Equal Opportunity Commission.
Inclusive teaching practices
Inclusive teaching practices are a proactive way of meeting the needs of a diverse student population. Awareness of disability access issues in the use of microphones, overheads, projectors, print materials and online materials in class are key issues. Class processes such as group work, field trips, practicals and assessment tasks should also be conducted with disability access in mind. Information about inclusive teaching practices can be found at Teaching students with disabilities.
Accommodating students with disabilities
Students with disabilities may require individual arrangements to ensure that they have fair access to the teaching and learning environment and processes within your course. A useful strategy is to invite your class to privately discuss any individual requirements they have at the beginning of the study period. UniSA students requiring accommodation or services should have an Action Plan provided by the Disability Service. This plan will assist you in working out any individual accommodations required by the student. These can include activities such as:
- assessment modifications including providing additional time for assignments
- tailoring readings for a student
- modifying teaching practices (ie using a microphone).
Information about accommodating students with disabilities is available at Teaching students with disabilities.
Disability Access Plan process
The UniSA Disability Service administers a documentary process for providing services to students with disabilities. Services are directed toward minimising the impact of the student’s disabilities on their access to the teaching and learning environment. The process results in the development of an Access Plan for the student. The Access Plan documents services to be provided and is a mechanism for students who need to alert staff regarding the impact of their disability or medical conditions. It is important to note that students use the Access Plan independently to inform staff regarding their disability where required unless assistance is needed.
- UniSA Action Plan process flowchart
- More information about accessing disability services and the UniSA Access Plan
Referral of students to Disability Services
The Learning and Teaching Unit Disability Service provides a range of services to students with disabilities. Services can include equipment loan, interpreting and notetaking services. Disability service staff can also provide advice and assistance to University staff in meeting the needs of students with disabilities. The services are provided on the basis of the student's individual access requirements. Services are available on each campus by contacting a Disability Adviser at the Learning and Teaching Unit.
Confidentiality of Disability or Health Information
Releasing information:
- within the University: information a student decides to provide University staff regarding their disability or health status is of a personal nature. The student maintains control over access to the information and determines what information they choose to make available to relevant university staff. Students can inform staff of disability or health issues impacting on their study with the assistance of the disability service. An Access Plan can be used as a means of providing relevant information.
- outside the University: information students provide the University regarding their disability or health status is strictly confidential. It can not be passed on to other parties or organisations outside the University without the student’s explicit agreement, nor can University staff compel a student to release this information.
Limits to confidentiality
Information may be disclosed without the student’s consent when:
- the University reasonably believes that the disclosure will lessen or prevent a serious and imminent threat to the health, life or safety of the student or others
or
- there exists a legal obligation to do so
- legal obligation includes such circumstances as a court subpoena, a valid search warrant, or such other legislated requirements as may be in force at any given time