Reasonable Adjustments: Long COVID
Reasonable adjustments are an important strategy to support students with disability while studying or training. Adjustments are negotiated to meet the needs of the individual student; this is predominantly done through a Disability Practitioner within the institution the student attends. They can include a wide range of adjustments outlined below.
If you have Long COVID symptoms that impact upon your ability to study, you may benefit from a range of inclusive teaching and assessment strategies.
When returning to study after illness you may need supports, considerations and reasonable adjustments to address the impact of the syndrome on your attendance, participation, and performance in your studies.
While COVID-19 or Long COVID is not a recognised as a disability per se it is a health condition which needs to be managed like many other health conditions that students may experience while studying.
Students who have Long COVID symptoms which impact your study may benefit from a range of inclusive teaching and assessment strategies. Some adjustments that are frequently used for students who have Long COVID symptoms include:
- recording of lectures
- provision of a note-taker
- extensions to deadlines
- provision of reading lists at the before the start of the course
- provision of a peer mentor
- provision of one-to-one sessions with a tutor or learning support worker
- advance notice of topics to be covered and assignments to be completed
- negotiation regarding attendance requirements
- negotiation of how assessment materials are presented for marking
- additional time for exams
- negotiation of take home/alternative exams if appropriate
- suspension of assessment and negotiation of enrolment status where possible when the health condition enters and active phase.
Further information about support for students with Long COVID visit our section on Disaster Response and Emergency Support - Student Support.