Students with disabilities

Who we are
Disability Advisors
Other contact staff
Disability-related policies
Accessible parking
Negotiating adjustments to teaching and assessment methods
The Advocate (Newsletter for Student with Disabilities)

 

Who we are ...

• Paula Williams, B AppSc (Disability Studies)
  Disability Advisor
• Toni Crisci, BA BSW
  Disability Advisor
  
• Helen Herreen
  Disability support, Finance and administration
• Chris Crichton
  Reception and administration
• Clair Pavey
  Reception and administration
  

Disability Advisors

The Disability Advisors provide a free, confidential service for enrolled students who have a disability and are the first point of contact for information regarding assistance. 'Disability' refers to any impairment, disability or medical condition that inhibits a student's access to education.

The Disability Advisors coordinate specific services that allow students with disabilities to access university study and can provide advocacy on behalf of individual students or on disability issues that affect a number of students.

To make an appointment phone 8201 2118. Appointments normally are held from 10.30am - 3.30pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, but other times can be arranged if this is not convenient.

You are welcome to drop in at other times, but there is no guarantee the Disability Advisors will be available.

General contact details for the Disability Advisors are:
Phone: 8201 2118 | TTY: 8201 3242 | Email: disability@flinders.edu.au

Other contact staff

Faculty Disability Academic Advisors

Each Faculty appoints a member of academic staff as a Faculty Disability Academic Advisor. FDAAs act as a point of contact and information for students with disabilities and for academic staff who need to clarify issues relating to reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities.

• Education, Humanities, Law and Theology: Mr Alan Leaver 8201 3837
• Health Sciences: School of Medicine: Dr Brian Matthews 8201 3448
• Health Sciences: School of Nursing & Midwifery: Ms Didy Button 8201 3312
• Science and Engineering: Dr Graham Wigmore 8201 2050
  
• Social Sciences: Dr Jane Robbins 8201 2074

Library Contact Officer 

Mr Ian McBain: 8201 2023. See the Library Services for Students with Disabilities web page for further information.

Equal Opportunity Contact Officers

Information about the Equal Opportunity Contact Officer network is available on the contact officers page at the Equal Opportunity Unit (EOU) site. The EOU is responsible for policy development and advice on matters relating to women, people with disabilities, and race issues and handles queries relating to discrimination and harassment.   

Disability-related policies

Flinders has a Policy on Students with Disabilities and has developed a Disability Action Plan to ensure appropriate infrastructures are established and maintained within the University. The implementation of the policy is overseen by the Disability Committee.

Accessible parking

Disabled parking bays are available in all car parks. A State Disability Permit is valid in these areas without a ticket or day permit. People who have a short-term disability can apply for a non-renewable three month University permit through the University Health Service. Written evidence from a treating medical professional is required. These permits are only valid when displayed with an annual, semester or day permit.

Negotiating adjustments to teaching and assessment methods

Students who wish to apply for adjustments to teaching or assessment methods on the basis of a disability should see the Guidelines for Reasonable Adjustment to Assessment and Teaching Methods for Students with Disabilities which are included in the Student Related Policies and Procedures Manual.

'Reasonable adjustment to assessment' refers to special conditions or considerations in examinations and other assessment exercises.

'Reasonable adjustment to teaching methods' refers to variations in the way courses/topics are taught in order that they are accessible to students with disabilities.  

How do I apply? 

The first step is to make an appointment to see the Disability Advisor, the counselling service or the health service.

If you are seeking an adjustment to examination arrangements, an application will be made on your behalf on the basis of this meeting and the documentation you provide. Applications normally must reach the Examinations Office at least four weeks before the examinations period begins. While every effort is made to accommodate recommendations made after this date, they cannot be guaranteed equal consideration. The Examinations Office will inform you of what arrangements have been made before the examinations period.

If you are seeking an adjustment to teaching or assessment methods other than for examinations, we will help you negotiate an arrangement with the lecturer-in-charge.

The Disability Advisor can make recommendations based on the documentation you provide. The recommendations are detailed in an Access Plan. Students may find it useful to discuss their needs with the Disability Advisor before approaching academic staff.

Students who are dissatisfied with a response from a lecturer-in-charge or with provisions made for reasonable adjustments to assessment should follow the procedures detailed in the University's Student Appeals and Complaints Policy.