Disability - Provisions For Students Policy

1. Purpose

To ensure that CIT students who identify as having a disability are provided with appropriate supports to assist them to reach their educational goals in a supportive and inclusive learning environment.

2. Scope

All current and future students who identify as having a disability.

3. Principles

3.1 CIT provides education to adult learners. When you enrol at CIT, our relationship is with you as the student. You are welcome to have a parent or support person involved in your learning journey. However, irrespective of your age, they cannot replace you in the decision making or contact processes.

3.2 CIT is committed to providing an equitable and inclusive learning environment for all students and complies with the disability discrimination legislation and the education standards for students with disability.

3.3 All students who identify as having a disability, and register with Student Support, will be offered the opportunity to meet with a CIT Education Advisor, Disability to assess their learning and other support needs.

3.4 Appointments with the CIT Education Advisor, Disability can come through self-referral or teacher-referral.

3.5 CIT may not be able to assist students where the student chooses not to accept or act on advice from the CIT Education Advisor, Disability regarding enrolment or study loads which may result in their inability to succeed.

3.6 CIT will ensure suitable access and resources to enrolment sessions for students with disability, when notified in advance, and will provide support to enrol into a program if requested.

3.7 CIT will follow the principles of reasonable adjustment to determine where an adjustment can be made to allow a student to participate on the same basis as a student without a disability.

3.8 CIT’s obligation to implement reasonable adjustment is subject to provision by the student of timely and relevant advice of their disability and requirements.

3.9 The provision of access, special resources and support services to students with disability, according to the principles of reasonable adjustment, will be assessed on a case by case basis.

3.10 A CIT student with disability who cannot study full-time for reasons directly related to their disability is entitled to a full-time student card if they are undertaking at least 25% of a full-time program

3.11 Students who have identified as having a disability and are registered with the CIT  Education Advisors, Disability may be awarded a modified grade on the recommendation of a verification panel. A modified grade is not a pass grade.

3.12 Personal health information provided by students is treated in accordance with the Health Records Act (Privacy and Access) 1997 and, with permission from the student, will only be shared if this information is deemed relevant for the purposes of making reasonable adjustments and referrals.

4. Documentation

Disability Discrimination Act 1992

Disability Standards for Education 2005

Australian Building Standards

Health Records (Privacy and Access) Act 1997

Equity Policy

Complaints Students and Community Members Policy

Resource Handbook for Teachers of Students with a Disability

5. Definitions

All terminology used in this policy is consistent with definitions in the CIT Definitions of Terms.

Disability - defined by the Disability Discrimination ACT 1992 "in relation to a person means:

• total or partial loss of the person's bodily or mental functions; or
• total or partial loss of part of the body; or
• the presence in the body or organisms causing disease or illness; or
• the presence in the body or organisms capable of causing disease or illness; or
• the malfunction, malformation or disfigurement of a part of the person's body; or
• a disorder or malfunction that results in the person learning differently from a person without the disorder or malfunction; or
• a disorder, illness or disease that affects a person's thought processes, perception of reality, emotions or judgement or that results in disturbed behaviour;

And includes a disability that:

• presently exists; or
• previously existed but no longer exists; or
• may exist in the future; or is 'imputed to a person'".

6. Policy Contact Officer

Manager, Student Support.

Contact CIT Student Services on (02) 6207 3188 or email infoline@cit.edu.au for further information.

7. Procedures

This policy is implemented through the Student Support Team.