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Disability Policy

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Section 1 - Purpose and Context

(1) Nil.

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Section 2 - Definitions

(2) Nil.

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Section 3 - Policy Statement

Part A - Access and Inclusion in University Policy

(3) Staff and students with disabilities are an integral part of the diverse population at the University of Western Sydney. The University of Western Sydney's Equal Opportunity Policy Statement confirms the University's commitment to providing equal opportunity for all staff and students and to promoting inclusion through valuing diversity.

(4) The University of Western Sydney is committed to continually review all policies and practices as they affect both staff and students with disabilities. This results in the integration of the principles of equal opportunity for people with disabilities in University policies, procedures, decisions and operations.

(5) The University of Western Sydney is also committed to redressing, through affirmative action, the past disadvantage experienced by people with disabilities. To achieve this objective, the University of Western Sydney has developed, and will continue to develop, a range of services and accommodations for staff and students who have a disability to ensure equal access to, and participation at, the University.

(6) The University of Western Sydney is committed to providing a learning and work environment free from discrimination and harassment on the grounds of a disability.

Part B - Disability Discrimination Act

(7) The University of Western Sydney is required to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act 1992. The Act makes it unlawful for tertiary institutions to discriminate (in the provision of educational and employment opportunities, services and facilities) against people on the basis that they have, or may have, a disability. The University of Western Sydney defines 'disability' in accordance with the Act. This policy should be read in conjunction with the Act, and aims to give full effect to the objectives of the Act.

Part C - How The University of Western Sydney Implements Access and Inclusion

(8) The University of Western Sydney has in place a Disability Action Plan prepared in accordance with Section 61 of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commissions publication, 'A Guide to the Development of Disability Discrimination Act Action Plans for the Tertiary Education Sector'. This Plan is a working document which sets out the University's goals and strategies to achieve access and inclusion for people with a disability. The Disability Action Plan is available for viewing on the University of Western Sydney's web site. The University of Western Sydney's Disability Committee ensures a consistent approach to policies and practices between Network Members at the University level. The Committee is responsible for the implementation and review of the University of Western Sydney's Disability Action Plan.

(9) Each Network Member will have a Disability Committee. This committee is responsible for providing advice on policy development and representing staff and students who have a disability on matters pertaining to access and inclusion. The Network Member Committees report to the University of Western Sydney's Disability Committee.

Part D - Disability and Disclosure

(10) Staff and students are not required to disclose their disability unless they are seeking accommodations or workplace adjustments. The University of Western Sydney observes confidentiality in matters relating to disabilities, and has procedures in place to ensure confidentiality.

Part E - Physical Access

(11) The University of Western Sydney is committed to ensuring that all University buildings and facilities are accessible to students, staff and the wider community. The University of Western Sydney will achieve this through an ongoing program of improvements to the physical access of existing buildings and facilities and ensuring that new buildings are accessible.

(12) The policy adopts a standard which goes beyond the minimum set by the Australian Standard AS 1428.1. The basic standard for all UWS developments (new and alterations) shall be Australian Standard 1428.2-1992 Design for Access and Mobility, Part 2: Enhanced and Additional Requirements - Buildings and Facilities, and related standards. The UWS standards will be the most current version of these Standards and be consistent with the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992.

(13) The policy document Protocol on Access provides details of Standards and procedures for ensuring access across all UWS campuses.

Part F - Library and Information Technology Services

(14) The University of Western Sydney's Libraries and Information Technology Services will make available resources, services and professional assistance to support the information and research requirements of students and staff. The University's Libraries and Information Technology Services will assist students and staff with disabilities to ensure equitable access to contemporary information and technology services. This includes special loan conditions and the installation, maintenance and upgrading of technology such as print enlargement, close-circuit televisions, voice activated/speaking computers and text scanners, large computer monitors and associated software programs.

(15) Wherever possible, technology equipment is pooled to ensure it can be made available across the Network to students and staff with disabilities at the appropriate campus.

Part G - Disability Awareness, Training and Education

(16) The University of Western Sydney aims to promote disability awareness through a range of programs including: a program of disability awareness training for students through student forums conducted by each Member; compulsory disability awareness programs and training in reasonable accommodations to teaching practices and assessment for academic staff; disability awareness training for all staff, particularly the academic and administrative Head of Unit; and staff training on matters pertaining to the Disability Discrimination Act and the human resource policies of the University of Western Sydney.

Part H - Appeals, Grievances and Complaints

(17) Staff and students who believe they have been treated unfairly on the grounds of disability are encouraged to use the University procedures on appeals, grievances and complaints. The University of Western Sydney is committed to accessible, fair and confidential processes for the resolution of complaints based on allegations of discrimination on the grounds of disability.

(18) Any concerns on matters pertaining to disability discrimination may be referred to the Equity and Diversity Unit.

Part I - Budget Allocation

(19) Annually, each University Member will, as part of its annual budget process, determine an appropriate allocation of funding to resource disability support services to students and staff of that Member. The funding will be allocated as a budget to the area within the Member responsible for administering disability policy and it will be the responsibility of that Unit to develop a detailed budget plan and to report on expenditure of funding against that budget plan, income performance, output and appropriate performance measures. In determining the annual allocation, the University Member needs to take into account the requirement that funding should be available for the provision of work place adjustment and assistance for conference and study leave of staff, and other reasonable workplace accommodations required by a person with a disability. The support needs of students with disabilities should also be accommodated within the budget allocation.

Part J - Students

Selection, Admission and Enrolment of Students

(20) Applicants with disabilities will be admitted as students to the University of Western Sydney subject to them meeting the entry requirements which apply to all students. Students with disabilities will also be able to apply for admission under the range of Special Admission Schemes available within the University. Such Schemes allow students to be considered for admission by the University where the student's disability has prevented them from meeting the usual academic requirements.

(21) To be approved for admission under this Scheme, the student has to have the ability to satisfactorily complete the chosen course of study, subject to the provision of any accommodations and support services required to eliminate barriers to access and inclusion.

(22) The University of Western Sydney offers all students an orientation program. This program includes information on available support services and policies relating to disabilities.

Support for Students with Disability

(23) A Disability Advisor is employed by each Network Member. The Disability Advisor is the nominated contact person responsible for ensuring students with a disability are provided with appropriate support and services. Students with disabilities are strongly encouraged to make contact with the Disability Advisor prior to enrolment or before the commencement of semester. This allows significant time to identify the students' needs and for the Disability Advisor to organise appropriate accommodation.

(24) Students are required, at the time of registering with the Disability Advisor, to submit documentation of an assessment from a medical or other recognised professional specialist. This should include confirmation of the disability and recommendations on the type of accommodations required. Documentation is not acceptable if more than two years old. Students are required to also complete a 'Release of Information to UWS Disability Services' (available from the Disability Advisor ) and submit this with the supporting documentation. In the event that appropriate documentation is not available at the time of registering, the Disability Advisor can accept an interim medical certificate or educational report. The interim certificate/report will be for a four week period, valid from the date of registering.

(25) As part of academic support services, each Network Member offers a range of specialised services and programs to students with disabilities. These include: pre-enrolment advice and assistance with enrolment; note-taking services; personal readers; sign interpreters; relocation of lectures where necessary for access; liaison with teaching staff in relation to reasonable accommodations. The University of Western Sydney will appoint Disability Academic Officers across the University. The Disability Academic Officers will be a contact point for the Disability Advisers, students with disabilities and teaching staff. Disability Academic Officers will act as a resource to other staff on appropriate accommodations in relation to teaching and assessment. They will assist with the organisation of individual examination arrangements and appropriate methods of assessment.

Subject Design and Delivery

(26) Before a subject is approved by a Member Academic Board it must be demonstrated that reasonable requirements of students with disabilities, in relation to curriculum, field work, laboratory work, practicum, teaching practices and assessment, have been taken into consideration in the course design.

Accommodations in Teaching and Assessment

(27) The University of Western Sydney will develop guidelines for the accommodations to be provided at the three Network Members in relation to teaching practices and assessment. Examples of appropriate accommodations include: lectures which make use of formats and approaches suitable for students with vision or hearing impairments; individual exam conditions such as scribes, extra time or enlarged print papers; alternative forms of assessment such as oral exams; appropriate adjustments to field work, laboratory work and practicum according to the nature of the disability. While students are required to meet subject/course assessment requirements as determined by the University, provision will be made for reasonable variations in assessment in order to accommodate the students' disability. All subject outlines will contain a statement informing students that:

'Any student with a disability who may require reasonable accommodations in the subject are requested to seek advice and assistance at the commencement of the semester/session, or soon thereafter, from the Subject Coordinator, in conjunction with the Disability Advisor and/or Disability Academic Officer.'

Non-Academic Student Activities

(28) Autonomous and semi-autonomous bodies associated with the University of Western Sydney such as student unions/associations; student accommodation and child care services will be assisted by the University of Western Sydney to develop Action Plans of their own and to ensure continuous improvement in the area of disability access. The University of Western Sydney will aim to ensure consistency between these Action Plans and the UWS Disability Action Plan.

Part K - Staff

Recruitment

(29) All recruitment and selection processes accommodate the needs of people with a disability. This includes processes such as advertising, job design, interviewing and medical assessments.

(30) People with a disability will be encouraged to apply for positions at UWS. Targeted recruitment strategies will be developed and implemented to increase the opportunities of employment for people with a disability who require workplace adjustments.

Terms of Offer and Employment

(31) Persons with a disability will have the same terms and conditions by which employment is offered as persons without a disability (including all express terms of any contract of employment and any terms implied).

Promotion, Career Development, Training, Study and Conference Leave or Other Benefits

(32) Staff with a disability will have equal opportunities for promotion and career development. The University will provide appropriate assistance for staff with a disability to attend University approved work activities such as staff training, study and conference leave.

Workplace Adjustments

(33) Reasonable accommodations will be made for people with a disability who require workplace adjustments. Persons seeking workplace adjustments are required, at the time of registering with the Equity and Diversity Unit, to provide documentation of assessments from a medical or other recognised professional specialist, to confirm their disability and provide recommendations on the appropriate type of workplace adjustments. Documentation is not acceptable if more than two years old.

(34) The Reasonable Adjustment in the Workplace for People with Disabilities Policy provides more details on the provision of workplace adjustments. UWS is committed to ensuring that the workplace accommodates the needs of staff with a disability through the provision of adjustments, including: flexible work arrangements; modifications to work premises; changes to job design, work schedules or other work practices; modifications to equipment; provision of training or other assistance.

Occupational Health and Safety

(35) The University of Western Sydney recognises its obligations and responsibilities under the guidelines of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and associated Regulations and Codes of Practice. The University is committed to ensuring a safe work environment and to ensuring that Occupational Health and Safety planning and activities also incorporate the needs of people with disabilities.

Equity and Diversity Unit

(36) Staff and prospective staff with a disability are encouraged to seek advice and assistance from the Equity and Diversity Unit, who will assist supervisors and the person with a disability in determining reasonable accommodations in the workplace.

(37) Any concerns on matters pertaining to disability discrimination may be referred to the Equity and Diversity Unit.

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Section 4 - Procedures

(38) Nil.

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Section 5 - Guidelines

(39) Nil.