Students with Disabilities Policy

MST: Melbourne School of Theology

College: Melbourne School of Theology

Staff: This is the general term used for all people employed by MST, whether full-time, part-time or casual. Volunteers and contracted workers are not covered under this policy.

Faculty: Those staff who have been designated and remunerated as teaching members of staff, and for which specific policies apply because of their role in teaching.

All College students with a disability that affects their studies is eligible for disability support. A student with a disability is defined under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992.  In this Act, disability is defined as a physical, mental or medical condition or circumstance that requires ongoing support or study adjustments. This includes conditions that currently exist, previously existed or may exist in the future. Examples of this are outlined below:

• Total or partial loss of the person’s bodily or mental functions
• Total or partial loss of a part of the body
• The presence in the body of organisms causing disease or illness
• The presence in the body of organisms capable of causing disease or illness
• 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
• A disorder, illness or disease that affects a person’s thought processes, perception of reality, emotions or judgement or that results in disturbed behaviour.

As every situation is unique, eligibility for ongoing support is determined on a case-by-case basis.

Statement:

The Disability Discrimination Act provides outlines that a person with a disability may require reasonable adjustments to ensure equal participation in work or study. The aim of reasonable adjustments is to provide negotiated and supportive measures to ensure that students with disabilities have equality of access to education. These adjustments are not intended to compromise academic standards or to provide an undue advantage to students with a disability.

The student with a disability must still fulfil the inherent requirements when taking the course however if a reasonable adjustment can be made to help them overcome any inabilities in doing so than the College will reasonably endeavour to do so. For instance, a reasonable adjustment includes variations to examinations and assessments, provision of adaptive equipment and modifying course delivery methods.

Students who have a disability that may affect their studies are asked to indicate this in the appropriate place on the Application form and during their application process. The College will take disabilities into account if students make their needs known. Students who are currently studying and wish to have their disabilities considered in relation to their studies are responsible for discussing this with the Dean of Students or the Dean of Studies at the earliest possible opportunity.

Application

The applying student for disability support must advise the College of a disability so that some additional flexibility regarding assessment requirements may be permitted. The student should either:

• provide evidence of the diagnosis already in the possession of the student, including, if possible, recommended support strategies for effective learning; or
• at his or her own expense, arrange for a report from an appropriately qualified specialist (e.g. doctor, psychologist, educational psychologist, or psychiatrist) which sets out the nature of the condition, and suggests a recommended learning support strategy, (e.g. additional time for exams, reading or the completion of assessment tasks, additional lighting, special seating, etc.);

and

• give written consent (with the agreement of the specialist who provided the report) for a representative of the College to contact the specialist for clarification as needed.
• The College will endeavour to implement appropriate intervention strategies in a timely manner. The College will maintain a register of all implemented intervention strategies.

Student Support Plan

Upon successfully applying for disability support a Student Support Plan will be communicated to the student in which case an electronic copy of the approved Student Support Plan will be provided to the student by email and relevant faculty. This Special Arrangements will outline a plan based on the impact of the student’s circumstances and provide reasonable adjustments for their study. Adjustments are made on a case-by-case basis and may include:

• Alternative assessment arrangements;
• Alternative exam arrangements (e.g., oral or other);
• Assistance from an academic support worker;
• Equipment loans;
• Assistive technology;
• Accessible formatting of course reading materials;
• Extensions to assignments;
• Flexibility in attendance requirements;
• Accessible teaching spaces and ergonomic furniture.

Implementation of Student Support Plans are dependent on faculty guidelines considering academic integrity, inherent requirements, and their individual needs. Arrangements can be applied to the subjects in advance of assessments however adjustments cannot be retrospectively applied to previous assessment tasks or attendance requirements.

Having a disability will not exempt students from being required to meet certain standards in their work. The College is obliged to require a certain standard of work in all its accredited courses. However, when reasonable, the College will make reasonable adjustments to ensure that students with disabilities have equality of access to education.