Assistance with Academic Study
Learning Access Plans
After you have completed your registration and discussed your needs with your AccessAbility Advisor, you may be given a Learning Access Plan (LAP). The LAP will document what supports or adjustments you need to manage your study. You should give your LAP to academic staff as soon as you receive it and at the commencement of each semester of study. This way you will be able to request your reasonable adjustments when you need them and negotiate any changes if necessary.
Special consideration
You can apply for special consideration if illness or adverse circumstances affect your performance in assessments or examinations, or you are unable to sit an exam or submit an assessment. Special consideration is specifically intended to support students who experience circumstances that are considered serious, short-term or immediate impact, adverse, and unforeseen. Therefore, to claim special consideration there must be a serious exacerbation of your condition or disability that has not been accomodated for in your Learning Access Plan (LAP) or an unforeseen event. Special consideration also only applies to assessment tasks worth 15% or more of the total assessment for the subject.
See eligibility criteria and access the online application for special consideration. Please note that if reasonable adjustments can be provided to accommodate for a mental health condition, ongoing medical condition, or disability, then special consideration may not apply. Contact an AccessAbility Advisor or your relevant academic staff for advice.
Adaptive equipment and assistive technologies
Courses can now be accessed on phones, tablets, laptops, as well as personal computers. Do you know about the various technologies and applications that are available to facilitate your academic study?
AccessAbility can discuss a range of adaptive equipment available to students registered with the AccessAbility Hub. The Assistive Technology Room on the Melbourne Campus and other regional campuses provides access to a scanner, OCR software, magnifiers, screen readers and text-to-speech software.
AccessAbility staff can also assist with advice on assistive technology apps and software for your needs. Some examples may include Glean which has been developed to assist with notetaking or Otter which is a transcription program. There are also numerous accessibility features within the Microsoft suite of software and a range of browser extensions.
Contact the AccessAbility Hub to discuss what solutions may work for you.
Accessible course materials
The AccessAbility Hub works closely with students and academic staff to ensure learning materials are available when needed.
To discuss what options and formats may work best for you, please register with AccessAbility Hub and an AccessAbility Advisor will work with you to ensure you are able to access your learning materials. This may involve providing you with assistive technology to access materials yourself, or where necessary, providing accessible formats for you. It's important to register early for support where you have complex circumstances.
Library services
Library staff can organise:
- retrieval of items from shelves
- extended loan periods
- accessible computer services
- alternative formats for library materials.
Make arrangements in advance to take advantage of these additional services. See more information on library services for students with a disability.
Alternative Assessment Arrangements
Extensions on assignments
Information about due dates, penalties for late submission and how to request an extension is available in your Subject Learning Guides in the LMS. In general, an extension request should be sent to your Subject Coordinator. Please remember requests for extensions need to be submitted at least 3 days prior to the due date for the assessment task. If you have a Learning Access Plan that recommends extensions when required you can submit your Learning Access Plan to support your extension.
If you require regular or longer than normal extensions please contact your AccessAbility Advisor
Changes to assessment methods
If you are unable to complete an assessment in the required way and need to request an alternative method of completion to accommodate the impacts of your mental health condition, ongoing medical condition or disability, then discuss this with your AccessAbility Advisor.
Alternative examination arrangements
If you require adjustments to your examinations to accommodate your mental health condition, ongoing medical condition or disability, these need to be arranged through your Accessability Advisor. Possible adjustments may include additional time, specialist software, ergonomic furniture or use of a scribe. Alternative exam arrangements are negotiated and included in Learning Access Plans, well in advance of the examination period. Contact your AccessAbility Advisor to discuss further.
Physical access
Access to lecture theatres
If you have specific access requirements notify your AccessAbility Advisor as soon as possible to ensure your classes are held in accessible venues. Check out the location information and mobility maps available for information on accessibility at your campus.
Parking permits
Disability parking is available on all campuses. Display the relevant permit to access this parking. If you are not eligible for such permits and you believe you have special circumstances, please contact Car Parking at your campus or speak to your AccessAbility Advisor.
Other Support Areas
- Student Learning can also help to improve your study skills and assist with assignments.
- Peer Learning Advisers (PLAs) who are experienced and successful students trained to assist fellow students with preparing and writing assignments.
- Career Ready can help to plan for your career and explore the range of options available based on the course of your study.