Dear
I have been a long time subscriber to your list but
until now have not posted questions to the list. I would appreciate
advice/suggestions about the issue outlined below.
Issue is to
do with a student who
came from a smaller education institution to UNSW. The
student has a back problem resulting in the inability to sit for even small
periods of time. The previous institution provided a lectern to enable
the student to take notes standing up in lecture rooms.
All lectures for the duration of the course took place in
one or two lecture flat lecture
rooms adjacent to each other and lectern could easily be
moved between them and stored safely when not in use.
Student has requested the same adjustments from UNSW.
However, our campus is large, lectures are set in multiple locations and
locations can differ every session. Lecture theatres can be either multi tiered
theatres and some flat rooms. There is no storage space available large
enough for a lectern to be stored. The provision of a lectern is
problematic for a number of reasons that have been raised, OHS issues, egress
to and from theatres, safety for all students, issues of moving lectern (or
similar equipment) between locations and security of storage.
Whilst we are trying to resolve this issue, we have put in
place a number of adjustments, including note taking, access to I Lecture
system, provision of high tables in the disability resource centre, and
accommodations for examinations and class tests which enable the student to
stand when doing their exams, take rest breaks etc.
If any of you have dealt with similar situations do you have
any ideas about other accommodations could be put in place to assist until a
systemic approach can be put into place, e.g. we are looking at lecture
theatres being fitted with shelves that could be fixed, and raised and lowered
to suit different students and would also meet OHS and safety issues.
Cheers Laurie
Laurie
Alsop AM
Equity
Officer (Disability)
Student
Equity
& Diversity Unit
Ground
Floor
White House (Map Reference
C15)
Telephone:
61 02 9385 4734
Fax:
61 02 93856262
[log in to unmask]
www.equity.unsw.edu.au
Please
note Our Unit is closes every Wednesday afternoon from 1pm until 5pm.
Cricos
Provider Code: 00098G
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