This worksheet will help you to understand your study requirements. It will also help you to understand how comfortable you are about disclosing your disability to other people.

In addition the worksheet will help you to think about the impact that your disability may have on your studies and to identify services that you may want to access.

Question 1

Does your disability have a name?

YES

NO

Question 2

Is your disability:

not noticeable

noticeable

recurring (keeps coming back)

temporary

permanent

going to get worse

terminal

periodic/episodic

Question 3

Identify how your disability will affect your ability to study. For example, you become tired easily and are unable to sit for long periods; or you will require adaptive technology such as screen readers.

Question 4

Identify whether or not your disability will impact on the course you have chosen to study with regard to the following:

accessing campus

accessing print material

communicating

field trips

laboratory work

practicums

using the library

sitting for exams

taking lecture/tutorial notes

writing essays

managing your workload

using machinery or working with chemicals

other

Question 5

How will the medicine prescribed for your disability affect your ability to study?
For example, does it make you drowsy, bruise easily or become tired?

Question 6

The Disability Discrimination Act refers to reasonable adjustments that may be made by institutions to assist students with a disability.

Think about what adjustments you may need to help you with your study. For example, note takers, better accessible lecture theatres, adjustable benches, extra time for assignments and exams, part time study, assistive technology, screen readers or alternative exam venues. List these below.

Based on your requirements, the Disability Practitioner at your post-secondary education provider will draw up an access plan for you. This plan sets out the study requirements that you will need and authorises their implementation. More information on access plans http://www.adcet.edu.au/students-with-disability/current-students/health-practitioner-reports-access-plans/

Question 7

Mark the disclosure line below to identify how comfortable you are about revealing your disability or study requirement(s).

1	2	3	4	5

1 being I don’t care who knows about my disability. I am comfortable talking about it.	5 being No way I’d want anyone to know about my disability. I’m not at all comfortable talking about it.

Question 8

Think about the mark you made on the disclosure line above. When is this likely to be an issue?

early on before I start my course

when I think of it

before my first assignment is due

when things go wrong

before my final exams

not at all

Question 9

What experience have you had at disclosing your disability or study requirement(s)?

I have never told anyone

I feel uncomfortable telling anyone

I am never sure what/how much to tell

it has been unpleasant when I have told people

I don’t think people believe me when I tell them

people might assume certain things about me if I disclose

I have had different experiences from those above

Question 10

What effect do you expect telling staff at your post-secondary education provider about your disability or study requirement(s) will have?

it should make things easier for me

it will probably mean that I will fail

I will get the support I need

other students won’t include me

lecturers will complain

people will be more helpful if they know

Discussing disclosure

There are many places that you can go for assistance if you want to talk to someone about disclosing your disability or study requirement(s). For instance:

Disability Practitioner

counsellors

lecturers or tutors

Choosing your path. Disclosure: It’s a personal decision is a great resource http://pubsites.uws.edu.au/ndco/disclosure/index.htm