Rights and Responsibilities

Through both the DDA and the Disability Standards for Education students with disability and staff within the post-secondary education environment have clear rights and responsibilities.

Students with disability have a right to:

• Choose whether to disclose their disability to the provider and/or staff

• Be consulted about their needs

• Enrol in courses and programs on the same basis as other students

• Participate in courses and programs (including relevant supplementary programs)

• Use services and facilities offered by the provider, including student support services, on the same basis as other students
• Access specialised services without which they would not be able to participate

• Reasonable adjustments necessary to meet individual needs

• An environment that is free from discrimination – either direct or indirect – harassment or victimisation

• Be treated with dignity and respect
• Contribute in a meaningful way to the development and review of institutional policies, procedures and practices affecting their lives

• Be given the opportunity to develop skills that will enable them to obtain maximum benefit from the educational opportunities available to them.

Students with disability have a responsibility to:

• Abide by all policies at their institution

• Upon choosing to disclose, share responsibility in negotiating required adjustments

• Use the services provided in an honest and fair manner

Staff have a right to:

• Maintain the core course requirements as deemed by relevant academics, lecturers, and heads of study programs. Refer to Course Design and Assessing Students for further information

• Request clarification regarding the impact of a student’s disability and requirements if that information is directed towards providing the adjustment or an assessment that is intended to clarify the student’s ability to comply with any non-discriminatory requirements of a course or training program

• Be treated with dignity and respect

Staff have a responsibility to:

• Consult with the student (or an associate) to determine what adjustments, if any, are required and whether any changes are needed during the student’s course of study

• Assess whether a particular adjustment is reasonable and whether there are less disruptive adjustments that would be equally effective

• Make any required adjustments in a timely manner

• Take reasonable steps to ensure that the student is able to enrol, participate in learning experiences and use facilities and services on the same basis as any other student

• Take reasonable steps to facilitate the provision of any specialist services that the student requires

• Develop and implement strategies and programs to prevent harassment or victimisation of the student