Student Intranet - Support

What can I expect when I have an appointment with Access and Inclusion?

You will need to supply documentation to support your circumstances, which could include a Health Professional Report completed by your treating health practitioner detailing the nature of the disability or medical condition, its impact on your studies and any recommended adjustments that will minimise the impact on your studies.

We can also accept other forms of documentation depending on your circumstances and are happy to discuss this with you at your first appointment.

An individual Learning Access Plan will then be developed, documenting appropriate reasonable adjustments based on the Health Professional’s Report, your own views, the requirements of the course and the responsibilities of all parties in implementing those adjustments.

Maintaining your LAP

The LAP will be distributed to your Unit Coordinators upon development, and then at the beginning of each teaching period for the duration of the plan. You will also receive a copy which can be used to request accommodations or support discussions with academic staff. The duration of a LAP will depend on your

circumstances and the documentation provided. If you have a permanent or ongoing disability, your LAP will be valid for the duration of your course, unless:

• your needs change
• you change your course of study, or
• you change your name

It is important to inform Access and Inclusion if your circumstances change. Your LAP can be reviewed and updated at any stage during your studies via a follow up appointment. Please note, additional documentation may be required to verify changed or new circumstances.

Roles and Responsibilities

It is important that you take ownership of your Learning Access Plan and are aware of your responsibilities:

• you should proactively engage with Access and Inclusion to advise of any changes to your needs or circumstances, including a change of course.
• your plan will clearly outline the relevant processes to request accommodations; it is important that you follow the correct processes and maintain communication with teaching staff and/or your Accessibility Adviser as needed. Failure to request support in accordance with ECU policies and procedures may result in your accommodations not being implemented.
• although your LAP is distributed to Unit Coordinators and relevant lecturers/tutors, when discussing or requesting accommodations you should always remind them that you have a LAP in place and attach a copy with any email correspondence.
• if you need to discuss or review your LAP, it is your responsibility to contact Access and Inclusion to make an appointment to review your plan.
• if you feel that your adjustments are not being implemented after consulting with relevant staff, please contact your Accessibility Adviser urgently to address these concerns.

Do I have to disclose my personal information?

It is your decision about whether you disclose personal information, however documentation is required to develop a LAP and any personal information provided will help us to identify the support you need. If you do decide to disclose personal information to the university, your information will remain confidential. Details about your disability or medical condition are not passed on to any other ECU staff without your permission unless there are potential occupational health and safety issues.

You can choose to share details about your disability or circumstances as part of a ‘Student Statement’ within your LAP which is then shared with relevant staff, however this statement is optional. ECU’s Privacy Policy sets out the parameters for collecting, using, disclosing, accessing and managing personal information.