Enrolment and induction are important opportunities for students to learn about support services and the institution’s expectations, and for staff to find out about a student's support needs. Any learning requirements of students with disability should be established soon after enrolment to ensure that the any adjustments or services are in place before the start of the course. The student should be involved at every stage of this process and disability related information must be treated confidentiality.
Most people with disability can be admitted to a course in the same way, and using the same criteria, as any other applicant. In some cases, however, it may be necessary to consider adjustments to the program, so it is important to ensure that course requirements and expectations are clearly documented. Staff should be aware that it is unlawful under the DDA to refuse to admit a person to a course on the basis that they are unlikely to be able to gain employment because of their disability.
International students
International students are covered by the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA). The DDA obliges institutions to make adjustments to its practices in order to reasonably accommodate the needs of international students with a disability.
Attitudes towards disability vary greatly across cultures, and international students are likely to have very different experiences of living and studying with disability. Many won’t even realise that their impairment or health condition is legally regarded as a disability in Australia and that they may be eligible for disability support . Staff working with international students needs to be aware of these and other cultural differences.
Services for Students
Services exclusively for people with disability should be the exception rather than the rule: most services for students with disability should be provided by the organisational unit responsible for similar services for other students. This inclusive approach is more effective than a separatist or specialised one. For example, ICT services for students with disabilities often are more efficient and less alienating when offered in regular computer laboratories.
Education and Training services are subject to the DDA and Disability Standards for Education and the organisation is still responsible for ensuring that students are not discriminated against even if services are contracted out to a third party.