Disability Support
Disability is a normal part of human diversity. Disability may be permanent, temporary or fluctuating, and may have a minimal or substantial impact on a person’s life. Disability may impact mobility, learning or communication and can result from accident, illness or genetic conditions.
Disability does not just refer to a person’s health or wellbeing. It involves the interaction between the unique features and functions of a person’s body and mind and the environment and socio-political context in which they live.
Disability does not equate to inability to achieve. People with disability have the same right as everyone else to make decisions for their own lives and to be active members of society.
Disability forms only a part of an individual’s identity. While some people identify strongly with their disability, others may see it as just another part of what makes them unique.
For SAE policies, the term encompasses ‘disability’ as defined in the Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act (1992).
The Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act (1992) defines ‘disability’ in relation to a person as:
a) Total or partial loss of the person’s bodily or mental functions; or
b) Total or partial loss of a part of the body; or
c) The presence in the body of organisms causing disease or illness; or
d) The presence in the body of organisms capable of causing disease or illness; or
e) The malfunction, malformation or disfigurement of a part of a person’s body; or
f) A disorder of malfunction that results in the person learning differently from a person without the disorder or malfunction; or
g) A disorder, illness or disease that affects a person’s thought processes, perceptions of reality, emotions or judgment or that results in disturbed behavior, and includes a disability that:
- Presently exists; or
- Previously existed but no longer exists; or
- May exist in the future; or
- Is imputed to a person. For more information on the definitions of disability categories, please click here.
There is no definitive classification system for disability. Disability is a normal part of human diversity.
You may be affected temporarily, permanently or have symptoms that occur from time to time. Your disability may include one or more of the following:
- Attention Deficit Disorder
- Anxiety disorder (including Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)
- Autism spectrum (including Asperger’s Syndrome)
- Depressive disorder
- Eating disorder
- Hearing impairment
- Vision impairment
- Learning disability
- Medical condition
- Neurological condition
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Physical disability
- Psychiatric condition
- Psychological condition
- Psychotic disorder
Disability is not always visible or singular, for example, an individual who has cerebral palsy may also experience a mental health condition such as anxiety or someone with vision impairment may also have a learning disability.
Depending on the severity of your condition, you may require long or short term assistance with any of the above.
If you are still unsure if you have a disability or if we can help you, contact us to have a confidential chat.
Reasonable Adjustments are a change to a module or program which may alter, within reason, the specific activities without compromising the essential learning objectives and/or the inherent requirements of the module or program. Not all people who have a disability require reasonable adjustments.
The Australian Human Rights Commission states inherent requirements, in the circumstances of each job, may include:
- The ability to perform tasks or functions which are a necessary part of the job productivity and quality requirements;
- The ability to work effectively in the team or other type of work organisation concerned; and
- The ability to work safely.
In assessing whether an adjustment to a module or program in which a student is enrolled, or proposes to be enrolled, is reasonable, SAE is entitled to maintain the academic requirements of the module or program, and other requirements or components that are inherent in or essential to its nature (Disability Standards for Education). Further explanation of these and related concepts can be found in the Commonwealth and State legislation and at Employment and the Disability Discrimination Act.
Whether an adjustment is reasonable will be determined in accordance with the Disability Standards for Education. This will involve taking into account all the relevant circumstances and interests, including the student’s Disability; the effect of the proposed adjustment on the student and on anyone else affected, including the Institute, staff and other students.
Reasonable adjustments may encompass a range of areas including:
- Amendments to assessment arrangements, such as flexible assignment deadlines;
- Flexibility in attendance requirements;
- Alternative Exam Arrangements;
- Teaching delivery and format, such as lecturers providing slides and other teaching material to students in advance of class, or the recording of lectures.
To register for disability support, you will need to make an appointment to meet with a Student Services Advisor. This will help us to assess which services you need to enable you to participate productively and independently in your studies.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION
To assist you to study independently, you can access disability support and arrange adjustments. You’ll need to register with us first. To do this:
- Download the Disability Support Medical Documentation Form and have it completed and signed by a qualified health professional.
- Contact Student Services on your SAE Campus to make an appointment to see a Student Services Advisor to discuss your needs.
Other documents:
Alternatively, you can provide original documents on letterhead that provide information about:
- the nature of your disability (if you have a learning disability, you’ll need to provide a full psychological assessment);
- whether your disability is mild, moderate or severe;
- whether your disability is short term, fluctuating or degenerative;
- short-term, fluctuating or permanent;
- how your disability affects your study (impact on your studies);
- arrangements recommended for you;
- any previous arrangements made for you at school or university;
- how long your documentation is valid for.
If you are unsure who to seek supporting documentation from, please refer to the Guidelines for Supporting Medical Documentation.
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT
A Student Services Advisor will help you evaluate your academic requirements, develop a Student Access plan for you, and organise the appropriate arrangements.
Please see below for details on how to make an appointment:
SYDNEY
Phone: (02) 8241 5307
Email: sydneystudentservices@sae.edu
Location: 39 Regent Street, Chippendale, NSW 2008
BRISBANE
Phone: (07) 3850 2000
Email: bne_admin@sae.edu
Location: Corner of Jane Street and Riverside DriveWest End, Brisbane, QLD 4101
MELBOURNE
Phone: (03) 8632 3400
Email: studentservicesdeptmel@sae.edu
Location: 235 Normanby Road, South Melbourne, VIC 3205
ADELAIDE
Phone: (08) 8215 7800
Email: adelaide@sae.edu
Location: Level 2, 282 Gouger Street, Adelaide, SA 5000
PERTH
Phone: (08) 6217 4100
Email: perth@sae.edu
Location: 116 Roe Street, Northbridge, WA 6003
BYRON BAY
Phone: (02) 6639 6017
Email: byronbay@sae.edu
Location: Room 6, 373-391 Ewingsdale Road, Byron Bay, NSW 2481
A Student Access Plan Disability (SAPD) may be devised for you to facilitate a partnership between yourself as the student, academic staff and Student Services in relation to managing information on, and the responsibilities of providing services and reasonable adjustments for you.
Development of a SAPD is voluntary. You will need to disclose your disability to the Student Services Advisor if you require reasonable adjustments, and provide relevant supporting medical documentation.
WHAT IS DISCLOSURE?
Disclosure is the formal process of telling our Student Services Advisors about your disability. In general terms, it might mean:
- educating someone about your disability or impairment;
- telling someone about the impact of your disability or impairment on study and how you do things successfully;
- providing documentation about your disability or impairment.
CONSULTATION/PROCEDURES
The development of a Student Access Plan (Disability) involves several steps:
- The Student Services Advisor will assess the student with a disability in relation to the implications of the disability for the student’s learning needs and the nature of any specific adjustments needed and will explain to the student the need for consultation with all the appropriate personnel involved in developing the Plan.
- The Student Services Advisor is responsible for developing the SAPD, which will include suggested reasonable adjustments for teaching and learning and assessment. Suggested Adjustments and strategies on the SAPD should prevent either advantage or disadvantage for students with disabilities.
- Once the SAPD has been developed, it will be sent to the Department Coordinators of the student. The Department Coordinator is invited to review and respond to the suggested adjustments on the SAPD. As experts in their subject area, feedback from the Department Coordinator will enable the development of a plan that facilitates student access to the specific requirements of the course.
- Once the Department Coordinator has responded to the SAPD, it will progress to the Academic Coordinator for final comment. Once the Academic Coordinator has submitted his or her final comment, the SAPD will return to the Student Services Advisor and be finalised.
- The Student Services Advisor will then send an electronic copy of the SAPD to the student.
For more information, see the Student Access Plan Disability (SAPD) Procedure.
EXAMINATION ADJUSTMENTS
Please note: The process for organising examination adjustments is separate from that of the SAPD. If you require arrangements for reasonable adjustment in examinations, you will need to complete a Special Consideration Form. You will require supporting medical documentation which, in conjunction with consultation, will be used to ascertain the appropriate arrangements for reasonable adjustments in Examinations. This will be forwarded to the Department Coordinator for their consideration.
PRIVACY STATEMENT
The information you provide is collected for the purpose of developing and approving your student access plan and the provision of other required support to assist you to reach your full potential here at SAE. The Institute will use your student access plan and provide a copy of it to relevant SAE staff, including course coordinators, lecturers and tutors to ensure the effective delivery of support and academic adjustments.
SAE may also use your information to evaluate the quality of services provided through Student Access Plans. Otherwise, the information you provide will remain confidential.
Under some circumstances, we may need to disclose your personal or health information to an external organisation or person. We will only do this if:
- the disclosure is required by law, such as an Act of Parliament, subpoena, warrant, or other legal instrument;
- your express consent has been obtained for the disclosure;
- the Institute reasonably believes that disclosure is necessary to lessen or prevent a serious and imminent threat to your life, health or safety, or of another person, or a serious threat to health or public safety.
For further information please consult the SAE Information Privacy Policy.