Access & Inclusion

Teacher helping out student in a computer lab

Who are we?

Access and Inclusion (A&I) supports students within the Australian National University community whose participation in academic studies is impacted by physical and learning disabilities, mental health conditions, chronic medical conditions and short term illnesses/conditions. We also support carers, international under 18 students and elite athletes.

Our team of DisAbility and Equity Advisors provide advice, evidence-based supports and adjustments to minimise the impact on an ANU student's studies. Access and Inclusion helps students to participate fully in their program of study, be academically successful and achieve their personal best through the development of an Education Access Plan.

Advisors raise awareness and understanding of disability issues amongst the broader ANU community through training and advice given on:

general disability awareness
disability standards
disability disclosure
inclusive education practices
physical access issues
education access plans; and
special exam arrangements.

Our work is supported and guided by ANU policies and procedures, as well as national legislation and standards.

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Information for Mid-Semester Exams, Semester 1 2020

Please feel free to contact Access and Inclusion on access.inclusion@anu.edu.au if you have any further questions. From all of us at A&I, we thank you for your patience and goodwill during this time. We wish you the best with your mid-semester exams.

- How do I request my Special Examination Arrangements (SEAs) for the mid-semester exams?

If your Education Access Plan (EAP) recommends Special Exam Arrangements (SEAs) and you require these adjustments for your mid-semester exam, that wherever possible, you are required to contact your course convener 5 working days prior to an examination, as they are the only ones who can implement the adjustments for online assessment items.

To assist Course Conveners with applying SEA adjustments to assessment items, a centralised aggregated list of students - and their required adjustments for specific courses - is available to a single point within each College.

- What if I require rest breaks?

For students that have rest breaks, the time should be bundled to create a new finish time for on-line assessment items. If your EAP recommends rest breaks, that wherever possible, you are required to contact your course convener 5 working days prior to an examination, as they are the only ones who can make adjustments for online assessment items.

- What happens if I need Extra Reading and/or Writing Time?

For students that have extra reading time and/or extra writing time, the time should be bundled to create a new finish time for on-line assessment items. If your EAP recommends extra reading time and/or extra writing time, that wherever possible, you are required to contact your course convener 5 working days prior to an examination, as they are the only ones who can make adjustments for online assessment items.

- What if I require assistive technology to produce exam answers?

Students that have assistive technology documented on their EAP, will be permitted to use the recommended software/equipment during their mid-semester exams (unless it breaches exam conditions). This may include software such as Voice Recognition (speech to text), spelling/grammar checkers, on-screen print enlargement and Natural Reader etc.

Students that require a scribe or other reasonable adjustments to assist with producing exam answers as documented on the EAP, are requested to urgently email access.inclusion@anu.edu.au.

ANU will not loan software/equipment to students for mid-semester exams. If the student is registered with A&I and requires information/ assistance relating to the use of assistive technology during exams, they may urgently email: access.inclusion@anu.edu.au

- What if I require other flexible time arrangements?

Scenario 1
- If you require changes to scheduled exam times within a given day. If your EAP recommends adjustments that require morning exams in preference to afternoon or evening exams, that wherever possible, you are required to urgently contact each of your individual Course Conveners at least 5 working days prior to an examination to discuss rescheduling the assessment time.
Scenario 2
- If you require changes to scheduled exam dates and/or times within the exam period. If your EAP recommends extra time to complete an exam/s so that, where possible, rest days are scheduled between exams, that wherever possible, you are required to urgently contact each of your individual Course Conveners at least 5 working days prior to an examination as they are the only ones who can make adjustments for online assessment items.
Scenario 3
- Exams split into more than one session. If your exam recommends splitting it into more than one session, either on the same day or on successive days, that wherever possible, you are required to urgently contact each of your individual Course Conveners at least 5 working days prior to an examination, as they are the only ones who can make adjustments for online assessment items.

Note: Students may be requested to sign a Statutory Declaration where exams are held at a different time to the scheduled time.

- How soon can I expect to receive a response from my Course Convenor?

If you have not been contacted by your Course Convenor within 48 hours from the date of your scheduled on-line assessment, contact your relevant School/College student administration office or Access and Inclusion.

- What happens if I become unwell during an exam?

If students become extremely stressed, experience an exacerbation of their existing condition/s and/or require extended breaks during an exam, they may be eligible to apply for Special Consideration as per the Special Assessment Consideration procedure or a Deferred Examination if they abandon the assessment item.

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COVID-19: Update to A&I Services

Access and Inclusion appointments are available by Zoom virtual appointment only effective from Monday, 23 March 2020 until further notice.

To book an appointment for new registration, Education Access Plan (EAP) renewal or advisory (phone or Zoom online consultation only), please visit this page.
For any other enquiries, please contact Access and Inclusion via email (details provided below).

You can also check the A&I frequently asked questions below for service-specific information.

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Frequently Asked Questions

- Am I eligible for support from A&I?

Current students of ANU, including international students, who have a disability, medical condition or who are recognised primary carers of a person with a disability may be eligible to register to access reasonable adjustments. For more information, please visit this link.

- How can I book an appointment to register for support?

Information on how to register with A&I can be found on this webpage.

- I was registered last semester, how long will it take for A&I to process my registration renewal form?

Please allow our DisAbility & Equity Advisors between 5 - 10 business days to process these requests. The length of time often depends on the volume of enquiries we receive alongside whether we require further medical documentation to continue your support period.

- What can I do to ensure that A&I processing times are efficient as possible?

Ensure that you have completed each section of your registration form, (especially the release of information section as unless this has been ticked and signed the registration cannot be completed).
Try to register as early as possible each semester.
Contact A&I a minimum of two weeks ahead of examination period for Special Exam Arrangements to be put in place ahead of examinations.
If you are experiencing difficulty during the semester we encourage you to contact via email or schedule an advisory as possible so we intervene early with advice and support options.