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Staff FAQ'sAcademic Staff
General Staff
Academic StaffWill I know if I have a student with a disability in my class?Not necessarily as students are not required to disclose their disability to the University. Some students prefer to remain anonymous, some prefer to see if they can manage their studies without any support and some students choose not to disclose as they fear they may be treated differently, or given less opportunities because of their disability. Conversely some students elect to disclose prior to classes commencing or at some stage in their studies when they feel it is important to do so. How can I meet the needs of a student with a disability if I do not know that they are there, or what their needs are?If a student chooses not to disclose their disability and to discuss/negotiate the specific needs they have, then staff cannot implement any individual adjustments for that student. However all staff are encouraged to be familiar with and practice inclusive teaching strategies. The Equity and Diversity Planning Unit has a number of publications including “Encouraging Inclusive Practice in Teaching, Learning and Assessment (PDF:458KB) and “Indirect Discrimination- fair in form: fair in effect?” (PDF : 1.79MB) that may be useful for academic staff. How will I know when I have a student with a disability in my class that has disclosed?Sometimes it may be obvious that you have a student with a disability in your class e.g. a student uses a guide dog or a wheelchair to assist mobility, most students however have ‘hidden’ disabilities such as mental health or medical conditions. If a student has disclosed their disability to the DLU, and has medical documentation to meet eligibility requirements then it is standard practice for the DLU and the student to complete a form titled ‘Confidential Student Information for Academic Staff’. DLU staff encourage students to make a time to meet with relevant staff to discuss the above-mentioned form which can be used as a basis for disclosure and further discussion. It is the students’ responsibility to forward this document to staff and discuss their disability-related needs. What can I do if I believe a student in my class is experiencing difficulties because of an undisclosed disability?Students experience difficulties for many reasons. It can be helpful to begin the semester by announcing in the first class a statement such as “ If there is any student who is likely to experience any difficulties with this subject, or has any concerns in the future due to personal reasons, then I encourage them to make a time to meet me so we can discuss these issues”. Confidentiality is often a large concern to students, so adding that the discussion will be confidential is also useful. If you feel it is appropriate to approach a student individually, it will be best to do this in a private environment and to approach the topic from your concerns about study rather than your suspicions of a disability being present. Students may disclose a wide range of issues and then you will be able to refer to the most appropriate service or your faculty supports. If a student discloses their disability to me am I legally obliged to implement whatever they request?The presence of a disability does not equate with a student receiving whatever supports or accommodations they wish. The University is required to provide reasonable adjustments that enable a student to participate in their studies on a more equitable basis. Essentially this means that a negotiated outcome is sought that minimises the impact of the student’s disability in the task, does not compromise academic standards and considers factors such as impact on other students and the University. At any time a staff member can discuss issues with Access and Liaison Officers in the DLU. The student does not need to be identified to DLU staff. What if I do not agree with recommendations for reasonable adjustment offered by the DLU?The ‘Confidential Student Information for Academic Staff’ form list adjustments that may be reasonable to apply for individual students. The DLU and student complete these forms at least annually, thereby meaning that the application of the form may need to cover up to 8 or more different subjects. The DLU cannot preempt the requirements of each subject therefore if you feel that these adjustments are not appropriate for the context of the subject you teach, feel free to contact the DLU to discuss an appropriate alternative. To ignore recommendations and do nothing is strongly discouraged by the University. Where can I access additional information on services to students with disabilities and/or expectations of the University in meeting the needs of students with disabilities?There are a number of useful resources for staff both within and external to the University. Among these are:
General StaffWhat actually is a disability?The Disability Discrimination Act describes disability as:
Further information is available on the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity webpage. It is important to note that many factors impact on an individuals experience of their own disability. That is, not all people with the same disability share the same experience as factors such as gender, age, coping strategies, frequency of illness, societal attitudes, architectural structures, shape and affect us all differently. Is it my role to organise supports for a student with a disability?There a range of adjustments that students with disabilities may require to enable them to participate as equitably and independently as possible in their studies. Specific supports such as sign language interpreters for Deaf students, text books in accessible formats, notetakers etc are organised through the Disability Liaison Unit once a student has validated their disability and discussed its impact with DLU staff member. There may be some supports that are appropriate for general staff members to implement in the course of their general duties. Examples are:
If you feel that you are being asked to do something that is outside your role or that you feel uncomfortable with you can speak with DLU staff or your Faculty Disability Contact Officer. If a student with a disability’s parent telephones to discuss their son/daughter’s progress am I obliged to discuss the student with them?Students with disabilities are adults enrolled at the University on the same basis as every other member of the student community. It is inappropriate to discuss a student’s progress with anyone unless you have the permission of the student to do so. What do I need to do if a student discloses their disability to me?Your response to a student’s disclosure can usually guided by their expectations. A student who lets you know that they have a hearing impairment and asks that you face them when answering their question may not require anything other than you do as they ask. A student who discloses that they are failing subjects due to a hearing loss and subsequent inability to follow what is being taught is disclosing because they need assistance. In this situation it is appropriate that they are referred to an appropriate service such as the DLU to discuss strategies to assist them. Am I always required to keep information confidential?Personal information should always be treated as confidential and treated in accordance with the University’s privacy policy, except for situations when you believe a person is a danger to themselves (e.g. a student has told you they are going to commit suicide), a danger to others (e.g. a student has told you they are going to harm another person), or you have grave concerns about a students wellbeing (e.g. a student has visibly lost weight, looks exhausted and appears to be delusional). If a student asks you to keep this information confidential you need to have clear boundaries and explain to the student that the information they have told you cannot be kept confidential and you have a duty of care to pass this information on to your manager or the counselling service. |
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Date Created: 14 December 2004 |
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