Hi Everyone,
Again I feel compelled to write a reply.
Check the Disability Act and I think you will find that they are unable to discriminate on the basis of disability by insisting that dyslexic students undertake a test to gain admission, unless all students undertake the same test. The uni is required to make reasonable accommodations which may include the following:
Providing the student with a laptop computer and something like a datashow(overhead projector which plugs into the computer) which the student would use instead of chalk and talk. It enables the student to prepare classes in advance and spellcheck everything. Where material needs to be written in an improptue fashion the student types it into the computer and spellchecks it but it is displayed to students.
Other accommodations might include a notetaker, coloured paper, tinted glasses, lists of commonly used terminology within the course, use of a dictionery.
What you can ask for is the results of any testing that has previously been undertaken which enables you to assist these reasonable accommodations but not to exclude the student.
The student will need to work quite closely with someone like a learning skills advisor to come up with strategies for checking the homework and other material that the children write.
The best strategy is to talk to the potential student and that person will be able to tell you where they need accommodations, talk to them about the competencies and they will be able to advise you if they feel they are able to meet them with appropriate accommodations.
In Australia there are a significant number of dyslexic students undertaking these vocational courses including teaching and nursing and manage well with appropriate accommodations.
I would appreciate if someone could tell me if there is a Web sight which has a copy of your Discrimination Act which would give me better direction.
Cheers,
Di Paez
Equity Officer
Sunshine Coast University
Locked Bag No 4
Maroochydore South DC Queensland 4558
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