Registration and Services for Students with a Disability

In order to access services and support from Disability Services, you will need to login to our online system. Here you will be able to register online, view your profile, documentation, and eligibility for services. Additionally you can request services and check on their status.

The online system replaces the forms previously available on our website and will reduce the need for you to email specific requests directly to Disability Services.

Below is information on accessing the following:

Registration
Lodging and checking service requests online
Services and support
Online help

Registration

Confirm your eligibility to receive support from Disability Services, then register. As some services take time to organise we encourage you to register as soon as possible.

To begin the registration process, login with your UniKey and enter the required information on the ‘Student request to register’ page. Once you have filled out the 'Student request to register' page, and have arranged your Supporting Documentation, you must make an appointment to complete the registration process with a Disability Services Officer by calling +61 2 8627 8422.

Please note that all students registering with Disability Services must read and acknowledge the Disability Information and Acknowledgement of Use and Disclosure of Personal Information forms on the 'Student request to register' page. Please note that students cannot be provided with adjustments or services if the Acknowledgement of Use of Personal Information form has not been read and acknowledged.

Supporting Documentation
To support your registration, you must provide recent and legible medical documentation from your medical doctor or treating health professional using the Disability Services Supporting Documentation Form. Once your medical doctor or treating health professional has filled out the form, upload the completed form to the 'Student request to register' page. Alternatively, you can bring the completed form to your initial appointment with a Disability Services Officer or ask your medical doctor or treating health professional to email the form to .

Supporting documentation for students with a learning disability
If you are requesting services due to a learning disability, Disability Services requires a complete copy of the results of the psychometric testing used to diagnose the extent of your learning disability. This testing must have been conducted after you have turned 17, as levels of learning disability can change during childhood and adolescence. If required, a Disability Services Officer can refer you for psychometric testing with relevant assessment centres or psychologists. If other conditions exist along side your learning disability, you will need to also provide a completed copy of the Disability Services Supporting Documentation Form.

Lodging and checking service requests online

Once you have registered and met with a Disability Services Officer, the services which you have been assessed as eligible for, can be managed through our online system via a Service Request .

To lodge a Service Request:

1. Login to Disability Services with your UniKey.
2. Select ‘Add new service request’ from the ‘TOOLS’ menu.
3. Select the required service from your listed eligibilities.
4. Fill in the details requested - complete all fields - and add additional information if necessary in the comments box.
5. Click on 'Submit'.
6. Once submitted, you will receive an automated email notification.

To check the status of a Service Request:

1. Login to Disability Services with your UniKey.
2. Select ‘View service requests’ from the ‘TOOLS’ menu.
3. Select the service request you want to check.
4. View the latest update - status could be 'pending', 'assigned', 'completed', or 'closed'.
5. If you have any questions regarding the request, you can leave a comment in the 'New update' box, then click 'Submit update'. Repeat this step if you want to cancel a request - leave a comment, click the 'closed' radio button, and then click 'Submit update'.

Please note that anytime an action or update is made to a service request you will receive an automated email notification.

Services and support

Your eligibilities for services and support through Disability Services will be assessed at your first appointment with a Disability Services Officer. Below you will find information on the various services and support available at the University, and how to lodge a request if you are eligible for any of these adjustments. Remember, you can view your eligibilities at any time.

Disability notification letter

A Disability Notification Letter can be made available to students registered with Disability Services, which may be passed on to Unit of Study Coordinators to inform them of the reasonable adjustments which are recommended to enable equal participation. It should be noted that a Disability Notification Letter is an awareness document only - it cannot be used to support Special Consideration or appeals and does not replace individual requests for academic adjustments (exams and assignments).

How do I obtain a notification letter? Lodge a service request.

What happens next? Once the letter has been processed by Disability Services, you will receive an email with the letter attached. Once you have received your Disability Notification Letter, we encourage you to make an appointment with your unit of study coordinators to discuss your specific needs, or if you prefer, email the letter to them directly. If necessary, Disability Services can email your coordinators on your behalf.

Assessment adjustment

An assessment adjustment may be requested when a student is unable to complete an assignment on time or requires an adjustment to the type of assessment, due to the effects of a disability registered with Disability Services.

How do I request an assessment adjustment? Lodge a service request, indicating the type of adjustment you are seeking.

When do I submit my request? You should complete a service request a minimum of 1 week (7 days) before the assessment due date.

What happens next? On receipt of a request for an assessment adjustment, Disability Services will send a recommendation for assessment adjustment to the unit coordinator directly. You will receive a copy of the recommendation via email. You should continue to work on your assessment unless you hear from Disability Services or the unit coordinator with alternative advice.

Please note: If a student is eligible for an assignment extension and submits a service request through Disability Services, they are not required to also submit an application for Special Consideration through their faculty.

Important: Students who are eligible for an Academic Plan and have already requested an Academic Plan, DO NOT need to complete a service request for an Assessment Adjustment, unless the subject concerned is NOT a Business, Law or Health Sciences subject. The Academic Plan outlines all eligible academic adjustments for these Faculties, and is sent on to the relevant Faculty at the beginning of semester.

Exam adjustments

The University of Sydney provides exam adjustments for eligible students who are registered with Disability Services. Registered students may apply for adjustments for both in-department and formal University exams through Disability Services. The adjustments are determined based on the supporting documentation provided, consultation with the student, and discussion with academic staff regarding the most appropriate form of assistance necessary to reduce the impact of the disability without compromising the academic integrity of the course. Some examples of exam adjustments include:

- Extra time for resting/writing
- Bite size food/drink
- Permission to use glucometer, or take medication
- Reader
- Amanuensis / Scribe
- Large print and/or coloured exam paper
- Sloping desk surface, and other ergonomic furniture
- Computer
- Toilet / Rest breaks
- Permission to move about/exercise
- Seating in front or back of room
- Special lighting, and other room requirements

NOTE: Disability Services cannot reschedule exams for students who miss their exam due to illness or misadventure. As with all students across the University, the student must submit a Special Consideration application to their Faculty for review - the outcome of which is at the discretion of the Faculty.

To request adjustments, there are different processes to follow for the two different types of exams on campus:

- Exam adjustment (in-department)
- Exam adjustment (formal)

Exam adjustments (in-department)

Individual Departments are responsible for any mid semester exams and some end-of-semester exams listed as 'in-department'. The exception is on the Cumberland campus where the Exams Branch, Student Administration, organise Faculty of Health Sciences in-department exams.

How do I request an in-department exam adjustment? Lodge a service request, indicating the relevant subject and adjustments you will need.

When do I submit my request? You must complete a service request a minimum of 3 weeks (or more) before the exam date.

What happens next? On receipt of a request for an exam adjustment (in-department), Disability Services will send an exam adjustment recommendation to the unit coordinator who will be asked to contact you directly to confirm the details. You will receive a copy of the recommendation by email.

Do I need to do anything else? Yes - if you do not hear from the unit coordinator at least 3 days before the exam date, you should contact them immediately. It is the student's responsibility to ensure that their exam adjustments are arranged.

Important: Students who are eligible for an Academic Plan and have already requested an Academic Plan, DO NOT need to complete a service request for an exam adjustment, unless the subject concerned is NOT a Business, Law or Health Sciences subject. The Academic Plan outlines all eligible academic adjustments for these Faculties, and is sent on to the relevant Faculty at the beginning of semester.

Exam adjustment (formal)

Exam adjustments for formal (final) exams are arranged by the Examinations Office at the Camperdown/Darlington campus, and the Exams Branch at the Cumberland campus.

How and when do I request a final exam adjustment? If you are eligible for exam adjustments, Disability Services will contact you by email prior to the formal exam period to remind you to lodge a service request. There will be a deadline (usually 2 weeks after the final exam timetable is released) for lodging your request, so check your University email account regularly.

What happens next? Once you have lodged your request online, the Exams Office or Exams Branch will send you an email with your own personal exam timetable. You must check the details and immediately report any inaccuracies to Disability Services. You are required to print the email and retain a copy for reference on the day of the exam. It is your responsibility to check the details of all exam correspondence and to arrive at the exam on time. Check the location of your exam room before the day of the exam.

Please note:If you are receiving separate supervision and for any reason cannot attend the scheduled exam, it is essential that you notify Disability Services as soon as possible so that room and supervisor bookings can be cancelled with appropriate notice.

Important: Students who are eligible for an Academic Plan and have already requested an Academic Plan, DO NOT need to complete a service request for an exam adjustment, unless the subject concerned is NOT a Business, Law or Health Sciences subject. The Academic Plan outlines all eligible academic adjustments for these Faculties, and is sent on to the Exams Office or Exams Branch when the formal exam timetable has been released.

Students Rights & Responsibilities in Formal Exams
It is each student’s responsibility to be familiar with the rules that apply to students undertaking exams. Please refer to the Examinations website to review the examination policies and procedures.

As a student with a disability who has adjustments arranged for an exam, you can expect to undertake your exam in an environment that is safe and quiet and where you are respected. To ensure an optimal exam experience, you should be mindful of the following responsibilities:

- check your exam adjustment timetable/letter with the supervisor upon entering the exam room, and ask the supervisor to check with the Exams Office immediately if there is a discrepancy;

- if the supervisor is making undue noise or behaving in a way that causes you additional stress, bring their attention to this and ask them to stop. Do not wait until the end of your exam to then make a complaint – this will be hard to rectify after the fact;

- if exam conditions are not adequate ie there is a high level of noise such as construction work being undertaken outside the room, discuss this with the supervisor immediately who should refer to the Exams Office for further advice.

Personal Academic Plan

For students studying with the University of Sydney Business School, Sydney Law School, and the Faculty of Health Sciences, you will need to request a Personal Academic Plan communicating all of your academic requirements. Academic Plans enable students to better manage their studies through early planning and organisation of their assessment requirements. Personal Academic Plans are currently only available for these three faculties.

How do I request an Academic Plan? Lodge a service request, indicating the relevant subjects, assessment details, and the adjustments you are seeking.

When do I submit my request? You should lodge a service request at the start of semester, or before, preferably by the end of Week 2. The Faculties expect that students know and plan for their needs at the commencement of the semester and have these arrangements in place early. It may be difficult to provide some adjustments if Plans are received later than this.

What happens next? Your Academic Plan will be finalised by Disability Services and forwarded on to relevant staff in your Faculty as well as the Exams Office or Exams Branch. You will receive a copy via email. It is your responsibility to check the details of the plan and to notify Disability Services if there are any errors.

Please note: If you are enrolled in Winter or Summer School and require an Academic Plan, please lodge a service request by the end of Week 1 of the start of your teaching period.

FAQs:

Can I change the details of my plan?
You may revise your plan in consultation with a Disability Services Officer. No informal arrangements should be made with your lecturer. We recommend that you consider all relevant academic adjustments and use the plan to sequence your workload for the semester, with minimal need for revision.

Do I need to do anything for assignment extensions that have been included in my academic plan?
Yes. Your plan should be printed and attached to the front page of any hardcopy assignments, or saved and uploaded with any softcopy submission, where an extension or other adjustment is being utilised as detailed on your plan.

Do I need to do anything for exam adjustments that have been included in my academic plan?
No. As all details of your exam adjustments have been sent to your Faculty, you will receive an email from the Faculty confirming exam details for any in-department exams. For end of semester exams the Examinations Office will coordinate arrangements and advise via email. The only time you would need to contact Disability Services regarding your exams is if your enrolment has changed from what was originally included in your academic plan, or you cannot attend an exam.

What if I do not sit an exam?
If you do not intend to sit an exam please inform Disability Services by email on as soon as possible. Please note that you must apply for Special Consideration through your Faculty if you cannot sit an exam.

I am enrolled in a double degree. Can I use an academic plan for all of my subjects?
No. For example, if a student is enrolled in a Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Arts degree an Academic Plan can be used for their Business subjects only as these subjects are in the Business School. Any requests for exam adjustments or assignment extensions for the Arts subjects must be lodged via a service request.

I have not received the adjustments/extensions as outlined in my academic plan, what should I do?
Please email Disability Services on as soon as you are aware of the issue.

Academic Support

Individual types of Academic Support may need to be arranged for some students with high support needs (i.e. vision impairment, autism spectrum disorders, severe cerebral palsy, acquired brain injury). The following types of Academic Support may be organised after consultation with a Disability Services Officer and receipt of required supporting documentation:

- Placement Support
- Skills Based Support
- Transition Tutor
- Tutorial Support

How do I organise the required academic support? If eligible, lodge a service request.

What happens next? Once the Service Request has been received and processed, Disability Services will coordinate with your Faculty or Placement Supervisors to organise the required support.

Accessible Formatting

Students may require their written study materials to be provided in an alternative format to make it easier to access (e.g. larger font, electronic formats). In order to access alternative formats, you will need to register with Disability Services and have your eligibility for this support assessed.

Prior to the beginning of the semester, you will have to lodge a service request, and then the Alternative Formats Officer will liaise with publishers and academic staff to organise the material.

Generally, as a pre-requisite for supplying electronic versions of files, publishers require that you purchase a copy of the text. You may be asked to provide a receipt (which you can scan and upload), or you may be asked to provide your copy of a text to be sent off-site for conversion. This can take some time, so the sooner you can advise us of your formatting needs, the better. If there are problems accessing the material in the required format, the Alternative Formats Officer will contact you directly to organise alternatives.

How do I request accessible formatting? Lodge a service request by the end of Week 2 of each semester. Indicate the relevant units of study and the required formatting. In the additional information box, indicate the order of priority for the material being formatted (for example, if you have an assessment based on the material for Week 5, you might want that as soon as possible, or you might know that Chapters 5-8 are the only ones needed from a particular book).

What happens next? After you have submitted your request, the Accessible Formats Officer will contact you directly by email to obtain further information and provide updates and links to documents as they become available.

Assistive Technology

Some students may require assistive technology whilst they are studying at university. You can find detailed information about the assistive technology available at the university on our website. In order to access assistive technology, you will need to register with Disability Services and have your eligibility for this support assessed.

How do I request access to assistive technology? Once assessed as eligible, lodge a service request for training and access to the assistive technology lab in the Fisher Library.

What happens next? The Assistive Technology Specialist will contact you directly to organise an appropriate time for training. If required, you may also be provided with software for use on your own personal laptop.

Lecture Support

Pilot Program – S2, 2012
In response to feedback from students in the 2011 Disability Services Survey and feedback from teaching staff, Disability Services is reviewing the lecture support processes and options for students eligible to request Peer Notetaking and Lecture Recording (previously known as Lectopia). As such we will be undertaking a pilot program in Semester 2, 2012 in order to develop a more efficient lecture support process.

The University has recently upgraded the lecture recording system (Echo360), which is available in most lecture spaces across the university. Lecture recording is a more efficient and accurate lecture support format and reduces the financial pressures placed on Disability Services who are required to fund an ever increasing Peer Notetaking Service and purchase of individual recording devices.

In Semester 2 Disability Services will implement a prioritised lecture support request process, whereby Lecture Recording will be requested in the first instance, before a Notetaker will be considered.

When Disability Services receives a request for either Notetaking or Lecture Recording, we will automatically implement the following process:

1. In the first instance, a request for Lecture Recording will be sent to the unit coordinator (even if the request was for notetaking).
2. If the request is declined, Disability Services will then attempt to recruit a notetaker.
3. If a notetaker cannot be found by Week 5, students will be directed to contact their Disability Officer to discuss options.

Students will be required to submit their requests for lecture support no later than the end of Week 1. Due to the high demand for lecture support, we may not be ale to accommodate requests received after Week 1.

Disability Services will undertake an evaluation of this pilot program in January 2013 and will seek direct feedback from students.

Lecture Recording

Most lecture theatres are set up with a recording system that enables lectures to be recorded and streamed on the University’s website, allowing students to review the lecture whenever they wish. It is important to note that this service is at the lecturer's discretion and Disability Services cannot guarantee that requests will be approved.

How do I request lecture recording? Lodge a service request.

When can I submit a request? You must submit a service request by the end of Week 1 of each semester.

What happens next? Once Disability Services have received and processed your request, a request will be sent out the to the unit coordinator to request permission. If permission is granted, the unit coordinator will organise access to the recordings through MyUni. If permission is not granted, please contact Disability Services directly by email at so that other forms of support can be reviewed.

Notetaking

The Peer Notetaking Service provides for eligible students to receive electronic copies of lecture notes. Notetakers (students enrolled in the same subject) provide their lecture notes to Disability Services who make them available to eligible students via our online system. For privacy, the note recipient is not disclosed to the notetaker.

The Disability Services Officer determines a student’s eligibility to access notetaking. The assessment of eligibility for notetaking is based on the impact of the person’s disability on their ability to effectively take notes for at least one-hour. Overall, notetaking is only provided to students whose disability prevents them from:

- writing legibly for a significant period of time, or writing without moderate to severe pain
- sustaining concentration in order to take down sufficient and legible notes
- hearing the majority of the lecture with any certainty
- seeing information displayed visually i.e. overhead slides and chalkboard, or from
- seeing their own notes as they are written down

Students should note that notetaking is not available when comprehensive notes are already available from another source (i.e. online, lecturer), when Lecture Recording is available, or when the Disability Services Officer has determined that a tape/digital voice recorder provides sufficient assistance. The use of the notetaking service also depends on the structure and format of lectures, for example, if a lecture is in a seminar style with large amounts of discussion, notetaking may not be appropriate.

Information for notetaking recipients

Notetaking recipients should note the following:

Lecture notes are made available to individual students in need after review by a Disability Services Officer.
Notes are for the personal use of the recipient only and should not be distributed to other students or uploaded to online learning environments.
Inappropriate use of lecture notes may result in the removal of this privilege.
The notetaking service is not intended as an alternative to attending lectures. It is the student's responsibility to ensure that they are meeting attendance requirements and managing enrolment and timetable issues.
Please note that Disability Services will do everything they can to assign a Notetaker to each request, however we cannot guarantee that a Notetaker will be recruited.

How do I request notetaking? Lodge a service request. You will need to complete one service request for each unit of study you require lecture notes for.

When do i submit my request? You should submit a service request by the end of Week 1 of each semester.

What happens next? Once the Service Request has been received and processed a notetaker will be recruited and lecture notes will be uploaded to our online system. You will be able to access these notes through the 'View service request' link. Please note that at times we may not be able to find a Notetaker, and you will be advised if this is the case by the end of Week 5.

Please note: Except in extenuating circumstances, Notetakers cannot be recruited after Week 3 of each semester. If a student requires notetaking after Week 3, Disability Services will only be able to provide access to lecture notes that are already on record.

Information for notetakers

How Do I Become a Notetaker? Disability Services recruits notetakers by contacting all of the class participants in a requested subject at the beginning of semester, either by email or by asking the lecturer to make an announcement. Interested students are asked to submit a sample of their lecture notes, which are assessed for clarity and accuracy. Students whose notes are considered acceptable are asked to commence notetaking immediately. Past notetakers may be reassigned to new subjects without having to submit sample notes.

Application Form to Become a Notetaker

Responsibilities of Notetakers. The notetaker is an employee of Disability Services, and is expected to undertake the following commitments:

Provide typed, complete notes from all lectures
Date or label the notes in order
Upload notes in a timely fashion – weekly at least
Advise Disability Services if the lecture notes become available on the web
Alert Disability Services to any change in contact details or availability for notetaking immediately, including any classes missed due to illness
Complete an accurate pay claim at the end of semester
In special circumstances, a notetaker may be asked to transcribe lecture recordings, rather than to provide their own notes

Payment for Notetaking. Disability Services pays notetakers per lecture hour. Please note that notetakers will only be paid for lecture notes that are uploaded to Disability Services' online system (not tutorials or practicals). Notetakers will not be paid for printouts of web notes or class handouts. Notetakers are paid in a lump sum at the end of semester after submitting pay claim paperwork. Notetakers must supply proof of their eligibility to work if not Australian Citizens. Payment will be made by direct deposit into an Australian bank account.

Notetakers Manual.

Interpreting (sign language)

Disability Services can provide an Auslan Interpreter in lectures where it has been established that the student will not be able to 'hear' the lecture via other means. It is necessary to book interpreters well in advance, so it is of utmost importance that eligible students submit their requests for Auslan Interpreters as soon as their timetable is confirmed for each semester.

Please note that the University cannot provide interpretation other than Auslan.

How do I request interpreting for my lectures? If eligible, Lodge a service request.

When should I submit my request? You should submit your request as soon as you have confirmed your enrolment and received your timetable - preferably before Week 1 of each semester.

What happens next? Once the Service Request has been received and processed Disability Services will book the required interpreters and details will be sent to you (name of interpreters etc).

Important: If you cannot attend a lecture it is your responsibility to contact Disability Services to cancel the interpreter for that lecture. If you have the contact details of the interpreter, you should also contact them as a matter of urgency to avoid the University incurring unnecessary costs.

Equipment loans

Recording devices, ergonomic furniture, assistive technology and other equipment are available to eligible students. Students must be assessed for eligibility via consultation with a Disability Services Officer.

How do I obtain the needed equipment? Lodge a service request. You must only choose the equipment for which you have been deemed eligible by a Disability Services Officer.

What happens next? Once the Service Request has been received and processed you will be contacted by Disability Services and asked to come to the office and collect your equipment and sign a form to confirm receipt of the loaned equipment.

Note: At the end of the semester Disability Services will contact you via email to request that you return your equipment by a specified date for maintenance checks.

Building access and accessible facilities

For students with mobility impairments, which may cause difficulty in accessing buildings, it is important that the location of classes in your timetable are checked prior to the start of semester, and any general access to buildings is reviewed. Accessibility also refers to ergonomic seating in lectures and classes, accessible teaching spaces and workspaces, and other furniture requirements. If you are to attend an ad hoc lecture/seminar or other that is not noted on your timetable, please submit a service request in advance.

To request review of accessibility in your timetable prior to semester, please refer to the Timetable Adjustments section below.

How do I organise my required accessibility? Lodge a service request. Choose the 'Building Access and Accessible Facilities' link from your listed eligibilities, and fill in the form outlining your accessibility requirements, including any specifics of room/building, date/time requirements and whom to contact if attending an activity that is not timetabled.

What happens next? Once the service request has been received and processed Disability Services will coordinate with your Faculty to make the required arrangements. You will be notified by email of the outcome.

Note: Other obstructions to access, such as blocked footpaths etc, can be brought to the attention of the University's Campus Infrastructure Services on Camperdown Campus or the Disability Services Officer on Cumberland Campus.

Library assistance

For students who may need additional assistance in the Fisher and Health Sciences libraries, the following support may be organised after consultation with a Disability Services Officer:

- day storage or locker
- photocopying assistance
- scanning of written material
- use of a trolley
- book retrieval
- assistance with use of electronic resources and/or database searching
- provision of ergonomic furniture

How do I request additional assistance in the library? Lodge a service request.

What happens next? Once the Service Request has been received and processed Disability Services will coordinate with your Faculty Liaison Librarian to make the required arrangements.

All students can access general assistance in the library via their Faculty Liaison Librarian.

Disability services card (library, lockers, resting rooms, pick-up service)

To access library support, a free locker, resting rooms, and the transport pick-up service you will be provided with a Disability Services Card after consultation with a Disability Services Officer. Disability Services Cards must be renewed every 12 months.

Library Support: Students who may have difficulty reading call numbers, or difficulty handling/holding/carrying books and otherlearning materials may request assistance from a librarian by presenting their Disability Services Card.

Locker: Students who may have difficulty carrying heavy items around during the day can access a free locker for storage. On the Camperdown and Darlington campus, the University of Sydney Union (USU) manages the lockers, and students will need to present their Disability Services Card to staff at The Cubby, Level 4 Wentworth Building. On the Cumberland campus, the lockers are located in S Block. Students will need to provide their own lock and notify the Disability Services Officer of their locker number and to clear out their locker at the end of each academic year.

Resting Rooms: Resting rooms are designed to accommodate students who need to take medication (such as insulin), or those who have chronic pain or fatigue and need to rest before their next class. These rooms are not supervised and are provided for rest only and not for illness or conditions that might require medical attention. If you have a condition that might require medical attention, such as epilepsy or diabetic hypoglycaemia, then you should contact the University Health Service, which is located Level 3 in the Wentworth Building (G01) on the Camperdown Campus. There is a medical room at the Health Service, available after the student has seen the doctor or for emergencies. The four Resting Rooms are located at:

- First Aid Room, Room 454, Education Building (A35), Camperdown.
- First Aid Room, Room 109, Ground Floor, Economics and Business Building (H69), Darlington. Access to the room is via the First Aid officers (their details are on the door).
- Rest Bay, Building E, Room E116, Cumberland.
- Resting Room, Building 24, Room 24B08, Sydney College of the Arts. Students need to collect the key from Student Admin (Bldg 13, Room 13G17) to gain access.

Transport Pick-Up Service: Students with mobility impairments can organise to be picked-up by Security at various locations on the Camperdown Campus and transported to another spot on campus, after presenting their Disability Services Card.

How do I obtain or renew my disability services card? Lodge a service request.

What happens then? Once the Service Request has been received and processed Disability Services will advise you when your card is ready for collection from Student Services reception.

Timetable adjustment

Where a student's disability impacts upon their ability to attend university at certain times, or they have a need for accessible rooms and buildings, or they need to be allocated to lecture theatres enabled with hearing loops or lectopia, Disability Services can work with the Timetabling Manager to organise the student's timetable, where possible, to fit in with their needs.

How do I get my timetable adjusted? Lodge a service request.

When should I submit my request? Students are encouraged to submit their requests in Jan/Feb for Semester 1, and in May/June for Semester 2.

Can I request changes at any time? No. Timetable adjustments can only be made while the Timetabling Team is working on the draft, and very early on when the final timetable has just been released. It is very difficult to make changes at other times.

Live remote captioning

Some students with profound deafness who cannot access lecture and tutorial material by other means, may have their case reviewed for Live Remote Captioning. This is a service that provides a live feed of a lecturer or tutor's discussion by transcription onto a laptop screen in front of the student in real-time. Eligibility for this service is made via consultation with Disability Services.

How do I organise the live remote captioning for my lectures/classes? If eligible, Lodge a service request indicating your timetable details.

What happens next? Once the Service Request has been received, you will be put in contact with the Assistive Technology Specialist who will book the service and contact you with the details of how to set it up for each lecture/class. Disability Services will also liaise with your teaching staff.

Hearing-Loops and other amplification

Several rooms across Camperdown and Darlington Campus are equipped with ‘Hearing-Loops’ for students with hearing impairments. On the Cumberland Campus, the main lecture theatre in E101 is equipped with a ‘Hearing-Loop’. These loops facilitate amplification of sound for hearing-aid users, increasing a student's ability to participate.

Students requiring access to Hearing-Loop enabled spaces will need to inform Disability Services so that the rooms allocated for their classes can be checked. It may be necessary for the student to liaise with teaching and building staff to have the loops tested and switched on prior to use.

Where rooms are not equipped with Hearing-Loops, it may be possible to re-locate classes. There are also some portable amplification units that can be loaned out for semester to eligible students for use in smaller class meetings, tutorials or conferences.

How do I arrange for my lecture theatres to be enabled with Hearing-Loops? Lodge a service request.

When should I submit my request? Students are encouraged to submit their requests in Jan/Feb for Semester 1, and in May/June for Semester 2 to ensure changes can be made to their timetables. You can submit a request at anytime to have your allocated rooms checked for Hearing-Loop enabling.

Parking

Parking in disabled parking bays - Students wishing to park in marked disabled parking bays require a current valid Road Transport Authority (RTA) Mobility Parking Permit. Application forms can be obtained from the University Health Service, and RTA offices. Application forms are also available online.

A valid RTA Mobility Parking Permit authorises permit holders to park free of charge in marked disabled parking bays and in any other unrestricted parking bay on the University. An RTA Mobility Parking Permit does not guarantee a vacant disabled parking bay and does not give students or staff members a right to park in a particular parking bay.

Temporary Access to On Campus Parking due to a Medical Condition - The University may also, at its discretion, provide temporary access to free on-campus parking for students who provide the Director of the University Health Service with satisfactory evidence of a medical condition that causes significant impediment to that person's access to the University campus. Permits issued under the University Access Parking Scheme will be valid for a maximum of one year. Access Parking Scheme permits are issued by the Security Service following receipt of a recommendation from the Director of the University Health Service. Permits issued under the Access Parking Scheme give a student or staff member the right to park in vacant unrestricted parking bays. They do not guarantee a vacant parking bay and do not give a student or staff member a right to park in a particular parking bay. Permits issued under the Access Parking Scheme do not authorise permit holders to park in marked disabled parking bays. Only the RTA Mobility Parking Permits allow for authorisation to park in any marked disabled parking bay on campus.

Significant Impediment to Access - In determining whether a student has a medical condition that presents a significant impediment to access the University, the Director of the University Health Service may consider the applicant's answers to the following questions:

- How does the person normally travel to the University?
- How will the person's access to the University be affected by the stated medical condition?
- How is the person's access to other daily activities affected by the stated medical condition?
- Does the person have medical evidence to support the case being made?

The Director of the University Health Service may also consider other relevant information.

How do I request temporary access? You will need to call the University Health Service to make an appointment with the Director. You should take along relevant and recent documentation regarding your condition.

Contact details:

Roads and Traffic Authority NSW
Ph: 13 22 13
1800 331 412 TTY for deaf and hearing impaired

University Health Service
The Director, University Health Service
Wentworth Building, G01
Ph: +61 2 9351 3484 for an appointment

Travel concessions

Travel concessions issued by the State Rail Fares Concession Office are generally only available to local students studying full-time. However, students who study part-time solely because of a disability are also eligible to apply for a concession pass.

How do I request a travel concession? Contact your Disability Officer to discuss. If approved, you will be asked to come in with your Student ID card and a concession sticker will be provided to you.

University bus service

The University Security Service provides a free mini bus service that connects the Camperdown and Darlington campus with Redfern station and other places around the campus. The service leaves from outside Fisher Library approximately every 20 minutes from 4.45pm. Click here to see Security Service bus details or contact The Traffic Office in the G12 Services Building on +61 2 9351 3336. During semester, between 6.30pm and 9.30pm there is also a bus that runs from Cumberland Campus to Lidcombe railway state after the local bus finishes.

Please note that these services are not wheelchair accessible.

Following the successful trial of the shuttle bus service to Sydney College of the Arts at Rozelle Campus in Semester 1, the shuttle service will continue until the end of the academic year.

Since 8 August 2011, the service has been expanded to include limited stops at Australian Technology Park (ATP) and Mallett Street as the shuttle loops from the Rozelle Campus to Camperdown and Darlington campuses.

View the new timetable

Online Help

Login problems? If you are experiencing login problems, please go to ICT's troubleshooting page or contact the ICT Helpdesk directly.

Online guide If you are having difficulties using our online system, we have developed an online guide to make accessing the system easier. Here you will find step-by-step instructions for how to begin the registration process, make a new service request, update and cancel a service request, and upload documents.

Further assistance If you still have difficulties accessing our online system, please contact .

The University of Sydney - Services for students

Important Information