Policy on Students with Disabilities
Australian Catholic University, consistent with its Mission, strongly supports the rights of people with disabilities to participate in higher education. The University is committed to developing an environment where diversity is valued and nurtured.
Australian Catholic University, its staff and students are each required to comply with the provisions and intentions of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Disability Standards for Education 2005 and the relevant State or Territory anti-discrimination legislation. The University therefore expects that its staff and students will work together in the spirit of these legislation.
The purpose of the Policy on Students with Disabilities is to provide all students with disabilities and medical conditions with equitable and inclusive access to the University’s facilities, services, events, learning and assessment activities by:
- Providing an environment that enables the safe and equitable participation of all students in all aspects of university life.
- Enabling information and resources to be accessed equitably by all students.
- Promoting awareness of informed and non-discriminatory attitudes towards people with a disability.
- Enabling access and equity in all student processes including student recruitment, enrolment and admission processes.
- Promoting inclusive teaching and learning practices.
- Enabling participation of all students in University life.
The policy is applicable to all staff and students of the Australian Catholic University.
Terms used in this policy are consistent with the ACU Glossary of Terms published on the ACU Website. In the context of this policy the following terms also apply:
DDA is the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and includes the Disability Discrimination and Other Human Rights Legislation Amendment Act 2008.
Disability – in relation to a person means:
- total or partial loss of the person's bodily or mental functions; or
- total or partial loss of a part of the body; or
- the presence in the body of organisms causing disease or illness; or
- the presence in the body of organisms capable of causing disease or illness; or
- the malfunction, malformation or disfigurement of a part of the person's body
- a disorder or malfunction that results in the person learning differently from a person without the disorder or malfunction; or
- a disorder, illness or disease that affects a person's thought processes, perception of reality, emotions or judgment or that results in disturbed behaviour; and
- includes a disability that:
- presently exists; or
- previously existed but no longer exists;
- may exist in the future (including because of a genetic predisposition to that disability); or
- is imputed to a person.
To avoid doubt, a disability that is otherwise covered by this definition includes behaviour that is a symptom or manifestation of the disability.
Discrimination on the grounds of disability means treating a person with a disability less favourably than a person who does not have a disability in the same or similar circumstances.
DSE 2005 is the Disability Standards for Education 2005.
EIP is the Education Inclusion Plan developed by Disability Services which documents recommended reasonable adjustments for a student.
Inherent Requirements are the fundamental components of a course or unit, that are essential to demonstrate the capabilities, knowledge and skills to achieve the core learning outcomes of the course or unit, while preserving the academic integrity of the university’s learning, assessment and accreditation processes. (Note: making a requirement compulsory does not necessarily make it an Inherent Requirement)
Online Environment refers to online resources, processes and curriculum available on ACU websites including the LMS and other web applications.
Reasonable Adjustment refers to an individualised modification made to the teaching, learning and assessment activities to enable a student with a disability or an ongoing health condition to access and participate in education and training on an equal footing with other students.
For these Standards, an adjustment is reasonable in relation to a student with a disability if it balances the interests of all parties affected. (Disability Standards for Education, Sections 3.3, 3.4)
Unjustifiable hardship is an exception under the Disability Discrimination Act (1992) that exempts an organisation from making an adjustment if the making of the adjustment would impose an unjustifiable hardship on the education provider.
The following principles will be observed in applying the Disability Action Framework (see Section 7):
- The University will provide staff training to develop awareness and understanding of the relevant legislation, university policy and procedures and disability issues.
- The University will provide information on course inherent requirements to support students in making informed decisions about courses.
- The University will endeavour to ensure that its agents and contractors provide an accessible and inclusive environment for students with disabilities.
- The University’s online environment will be accessible and inclusive of students with disabilities.
- All staff and students of the University shall, within their areas of responsibility, make reasonable adjustments (subject to unjustifiable hardship),to remove barriers to the access of persons with disabilities to the goods, services, facilities, events, learning and assessment activities of the University.
- Students with disabilities will be able to access support at all stages of their University experience.
- Students with disabilities shall contact Disability Services if they require reasonable adjustments implemented to support access to learning and assessment activities.
- Information in relation to a student’s disability/medical condition shall remain confidential and shall be restricted to those with a legitimate need to know in accordance with the University Privacy Policy.
8.1 Staff
All staff will take responsibility
Staff are expected to:
- Provide equitable access to education, services, facilities and resources for students.
- Where required, participate in a consultative process with Disability Services and seek advice in relation to recommended reasonable adjustments.
- Develop and maintain, through participation in training and accessing related resources, their awareness of the requirements of students with disabilities as stipulated in legislation and policies.
- Encourage students to approach them to discuss issues impacting on their access that arise from their disability.
- Implement recommended reasonable adjustments for learning and assessment as specified in the student’s EIP.
- Have due regard for each person's right to privacy and confidentiality when seeking information for the purpose of implementing reasonable adjustments;
8.2 Students
All students are required to familiarize themselves with the inherent requirements of their course and the eligibility criteria for registration with professional registration boards before enrolling in their chosen course.
Students with disabilities are encouraged to:
- Register with Disability Services and provide timely, current and appropriate medical or specialised documentation to substantiate the provision of reasonable adjustments.
- Contact their Lecturers in Charge within 10 working days of finalising their EIP to discuss their learning needs and the implementation of reasonable adjustments.
- Advise Disability Services if the nature or impact of their disability/medical condition changes, their circumstances change or they change their enrolment, discontinue or take leave from study.
- Participate in consultations and reviews as required with Disability Services.
- Engage with staff on matters related to their disability/medical condition.
- Use appropriate feedback processes to inform the University of barriers to access in the University environment.
8.3 Disability Services
Disability Services assists the University to meet its compliance obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Disability Standards for Education 2005. ACU may not be able to assess and/or determine the provision of a reasonable adjustment if a student does not register with Disability Services.
Disability Services is expected to:
- In discussion with the student and in consideration of supporting documentation, develop an Education Inclusion Plan (EIP), which provides recommendations regarding reasonable adjustments, where appropriate.
- Advise and liaise with the staff of the University concerning students with a disability regarding the implementation and monitoring of determined reasonable adjustments.
- Keep records for the purpose of reviewing and reporting on service provision.
A student who: is a carer, a relative, a spouse, lives with or has a business, sporting or recreational relationship with a person with a disability may be entitled to reasonable adjustment or academic consideration subject to provision of substantiating documentation to Disability Services.
The consequences from a reasonably apprehended risk may include:
- Physical injury to the student or others and/or damage to property.
- Harassment or serious emotional disturbance of another student, staff or visitor.
- Serious disruption of academic and/or other activities of the University.
The Australian Catholic University is not required to provide an adjustment:
- it would impose unjustifiable hardship on the University, or placement provider;
- it compromises the academic standards of a unit or program of study, that are inherent or essential to its satisfactory completion;
- for safety, it is reasonably necessary to protect the health or welfare of a student or other person.
- If it is considered an unreasonable adjustment.
Page last updated: 2019-09-25
Short url: https://handbook.acu.edu.au/1421760
Page last updated: 2019-09-25
Short url: https://handbook.acu.edu.au/1421760