Every TAFE Institute across New South Wales employs Disability Teacher Consultants. Each Disability Teacher Consultant specialises in working with a specific disability group. Their role is to provide a service to people with a disability to enable them to equally access education and training that TAFE provides.

If you are a TAFE student with a disability, chances are you have already linked with a Disability Teacher Consultant to discuss and gain support, service and/or equipment whilst you have been studying. The services they provide include:

• pre-course counselling
• assistance with enrolment processes
• Identifying and implementing strategies to assist you while studying such as:
• Sign language interpreters
• Notetakers
• Readers and/or writers for assessments
• Tutorial support
• Assistive technology
• Providing a mobility aide and/or assistant
• Assessment modifications
• Developing customised Vocational Courses (courses to give you skills to get a job)

NOTE: These services may also be used by students who have a temporary disability.

	Susie was completing Certificate II in Business Administration at TAFE when the Disability Teacher Consultant heard about a traineeship in Business Administration for students with a disability. The Disability Teacher Consultant contacted CRS Australia and Susie's Disability Employment Network Provider to work together to complete the application forms. The Disability Teacher Consultant helped her to practice interviews and possible interview questions and arranged a mock interview for her with unknown people. Susie was successful in obtaining a traineeship. The Disability Employment Network Provider talked to the workplace about the assistive technology she would need to help her and Guide Dogs NSW/ACT provided orientation and mobility skill training. Susie started work soon afterwards in a government department and continued to attend TAFE one day a week until she finished her course. She continues to be a valued employee.

TAFE Disability Teacher Consultants do not provide a specific employment service but they can be of assistance when you are ready to look for a job. They are an excellent resource to find out about:

• disability support services in your local region, including employment services. They can often give you brochures and written information about the local services that may be of assistance to you
• how to access employment services in your area. They may invite local employment services to come to your TAFE college to talk about their services
• the requirements and demands of local industry
• employment preparation initiatives such as the Willing and Able Mentoring programme
• accessing customised programs which can include work experience and work placement.

A Disability Teacher Consultant may also be able to meet with you and the TAFE Counselling and Careers Service to assist you to access appropriate disability and employment services and/or information.

To contact a TAFE NSW Disability Teacher Consultant in your area, refer to the TAFE NSW website. There is a database that provides specific contact details of the Disability Teacher Consultants at all TAFE Institutes across New South Wales.