Investigating disability support services available
Investigating disability support services at uni involves having insight into the types of support you'll need. Once you have an idea of the support you want and need, it's a matter of getting advice from the right uni staff and gaining a realistic understanding of services that will and will not be available to you at each uni.
Much of the information provided here about investigating disability support services has been adapted from the Tasmanian Regional Disability Liaison Officer's publication 'Leaps and Bounds', pages 24 to 31.
Thinking about your disability and support needs
- Imagine what support, equipment and/or access features you will need at uni. To do this, note down a brainstorm of ideas about:
- your disability and how it affects your study and ability to participate in student life
- the support you have used at school and the things that have been the most useful and unhelpful for you and
- your thoughts about the differences between school and uni and the new types of support you may need at uni.
- To help you think about the above issues, see FAQ Sheet 16: How do I find out what my disability-related needs will be at university? of this resource.
- Think about which of these support, equipment or access features are essential to you (that is, you would be unable to attend uni without this support, equipment or access feature) and those which you could work around or do without. This will help you prioritise when making the practical arrangements with the uni about your disability support plan.
- Answering some of these questions will involve getting advice from others, especially uni staff, school teachers, disability professionals and perhaps your family and/or friends. See below for further information about Disability Liaison Officers (DLOs) and suggested questions for DLO's.
Disability Liaison Officers
- Disability Liaison Officers are uni staff dedicated to arranging practical assistance that students with disability need to complete their uni course.
- Make contact with the Disability Liaison Officers (DLOs) of the universities you are likely to attend.
- Get as much information as possible from the DLOs about:
- Facilities which are available and their location on the campus
- What documentation will be required for alternative assessments, including exam provisions
- Any issues you should consider before you nominate your course preferences
- Academic/teaching staff who may be able to assist you
- Assistance during enrolment (if you need it)
- A personal orientation to help you to get to know the campus before you start
- General orientation programs available, e.g. academic study skills, social clubs, campus tours, and opportunities to meet other students and
- Annual Tertiary Taste programs (where prospective students get to try a day at uni) for students with disability.
- Before contacting the DLO make your own list of the questions you want to ask.
- It is important to contact the DLOs early (that is, during the year before you start uni and definitely before you start your course).
- Check the uni website for the DLOs' contact details.
- For more information and tips about talking with DLOs see FAQ Sheet 17: What is a Disability Liaison Officer? How can a Disability Liaison Officer help me get ready for university? of this resource.
Disability support services and other access arrangements
- Find out about the disability support services available at the unis you are considering. Unis generally have a specific disability support service which provides advice, practical assistance and support to students and potential students with disability. Examples of disability services usually provided in unis are:
- notetaking
- scribes
- readers
- provision of material in alternative format
- access to and loans of the latest available Assistive Technology
- interpreters
- library assistance
- campus transport and
- exam and alternative assessment arrangements.
- Get an understanding of the other types of adjustments and arrangements that may benefit you, including:
- alternative enrolment and other administration procedures to accommodate disability needs
- disabled parking arrangements
- physical access to buildings and around campus
- ability to move lecture/tutorial venues to accessible buildings
- quiet/chill out rooms/areas for students
- counselling services and
- health services.
- Check out the uni's website for more information about the disability services on offer.
- Try out the uni campus before you decide whether the uni is the right one for you. This is vital if you have mobility impairment or are vision impaired. It is particularly important to try sitting in on a lecture (ask the DLO for help with arranging this), having a meal, using the toilet and accessing the library.