Disability adjustments

A word from Allan Blagaich, CEO

Hi folks

As the summer holidays draw to a close many teachers and school administrators are already preparing for the school year. I hope that everyone getting ready to return to school has had a good break and is able to enjoy some more of it.

Hi folks

Guidelines for disability adjustments for timed assessments

We released the Authority’s Guidelines for disability adjustments for timed assessments (Guidelines) today. The Guidelines summarise the adjustments that may be appropriate for a particular student in NAPLAN, OLNA, ESTs, school-based timed assessments for courses and ATAR course examinations. The Guidelines bring together the explanation of the adjustments that may be available into one document supports students, their families and schools as they progress through the assessments that are a part of the schooling.

We have developed the Guidelines in response to feedback from teachers, school administrators and parents. I want thank everyone involved in developing the Guidelines and to take a moment to reflect on how they connect with the vision we have for our work at the Authority.

Connecting the Guidelines with our vision

Like most organisations, the Authority has a vision statement that sets out what we want to achieve. Our vision is ‘to provide quality curriculum, assessment and reporting of standards of achievement of all students studying the Western Australian curriculum, so that they become confident, creative learners and active, informed citizens who contribute positively to society’. This statement connects a number of ideals. In particular, it embraces the rights of all students to participate in quality assessment as part of their schooling.

As part of our work towards meeting the needs of all students we embrace the Disability Standards for Education 2005 (the Standards) and the Disability Discrimination Act 1992. The Standards require that ‘reasonable adjustments’ are made to assist students with disability to participate in education on the same basis as other students. A reasonable adjustment helps students with disability to participate in education while taking into account the student’s learning needs and balancing the interests of all parties affected, including those of the student with the disability, the education provider, staff and other students.

The appropriateness of an adjustment will depend on the nature of both the assessment and the disability. Any consideration of an adjustment for a student needs to begin with consideration of the disability itself. A formal diagnosis is a part of this consideration. In the interests of equity and fairness, the use of an adjustment needs to meet the interests of everyone involved.

What is in the Guidelines?

The Guidelines:

set out the types of adjustments that may be made
identify the responsibilities of schools, students and parents/carers
outline the processes for applying for and/or making adjustments.

Key dates for applying for disability adjustments

18 February – March OLNA round
8 April – NAPLAN
17 May – ATAR course exams
11 August – September OLNA round

Read more

If you require further information, please send us an email to info@scsa.wa.edu.au

You will find the Guidelines on our website.

Keywords: Disability adjustments, timed assessments

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