It is useful to know more about the
implications of specific disabilities and health conditions in order to
better meet the needs of students. The following sections offer insight
into the experience of living and studying with an impairment,
and explain terms you may encounter.
Impairments result from injury, illness or genetic disorders - but our focus is the implications of the impairment for
learning, not the specifics of the impairment itself. Our responsibility is to
make reasonable adjustments to teaching and assessment practices in
order to minimise the impact of the student's impairment.
Although
wheelchairs and guide dogs are familiar indicators of disability,
people's disabilities are most often "hidden" or inconspicuous. Rather
than make assumptions about the impact of a student's condition on
their learning, ask them what assistance or accommodations they
need. Remember, it is always the implications of impairment that are of concern, not the "diagnosis".