Team Profile: Disability Service
Who works in the Disability Service team?
- Terri Mears, Manager, Disability Service
- Cossette Casorzo, Disability Advisor
- Rachel Wielstra, Disability Advisor
- Gay Hardwick, Disability Advisor
- Sandra Windmill, Disability Advisor
- Jo Holland, Disability Advisor
- Kurt Sorensen, Disability Advisor
What does the Disability Service team do?
We support students with a disability achieve their academic potential. This may include prospective students by providing pre-admission and enrolment advice. With current students, we work together to develop academic strategies and an Academic Integration Plan (AIP), which outlines reasonable adjustments while at uni. The AIP may include Educational Support Service staff (academic note takers, readers, practical assistants and Sign Language interpreters), exam provisions, access to assistive technology, transcription of videos/podcasts and textbooks and educational material in alternative formats.
In addition to AIPs and advocacy services, we also:
- Participate in the Inherent Requirements Strategy Team
- Facilitate training for exam supervisors, readers and scribes for exams
- Facilitate training for academic and professional staff on disability matters
- Work to enhance the profile of the Disability Service
Where is the Disability Service team located?
The Disability Service is part of Student Wellbeing. Disability Advisors support across all campuses, including Western Sydney Online.
Who does the Disability Service team work with?
Our main focus is Western students. We support prospective and current Western students with all kinds of disabilities and chronic illness, mental health conditions and temporary injuries. As part of our role, we closely work with other units within Student Wellbeing including the Welfare Service, Counselling Service, Disability Support and Administration.
External to Student Wellbeing, we frequently work with Subject Coordinators and other academic staff; School Disability Coordinators; the Examinations Unit; Library staff; Equity and Diversity; Western Careers; and more. Everyone in the University has a role to play in supporting students with a disability to access education.
What would be a good example of the work that you are involved in?
Our day-to-day work focuses on supporting students to successfully complete their studies. We are also involved in specific projects including the Inherent Requirements (IR) Strategy Team, which works to develop and review IR statements. Inherent Requirements are the essential components of a course or unit that demonstrate the abilities, knowledge and skills to achieve the core learning outcomes of the course or unit. The statements also highlight reasonable adjustments that may be made to teaching and learning, assessment, placement and other activities to enable students to participate in their course.
What challenges does the team face?
The term 'disability' is misunderstood. Did you know 80 per cent of disabilities are hidden? Therefore, you may not know who has a disability simply by looking at them. We find many students are reluctant to seek assistance or may not even be aware they are eligible for support at uni. Under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), however, the term "disability" is very broad and includes mental health conditions, chronic illness, neurological conditions, learning disabilities, physical disability and sensory disability. We are a very friendly group of professionals and we encourage any student who has a condition, illness, injury or disability that impacts on their university study to make an appointment and come and have a chat.
What is the team focusing on in the next 12 months?
Our primary focus and core work will always be to support students by working together to develop strategies and reasonable adjustments to minimise the impacts of disability on their studies. In addition to this, some other areas of focus for the year ahead include:
- Looking at ways to improve access of content across the university
- Continuing cross-disciplinary work with the Infrastructure Services to improve access of the Western physical environment
- Streamlining processes with Schools and the Examinations Team to ensure timely reasonable adjustment provision
- Continuing to work with Schools to develop and review Inherent Requirements for new and existing Western programs
- Working with the Learning and Teaching team and Subject Coordinators to ensure accessibility for all students
We are also very keen to work more closely with Schools to provide disability training and support. If you are interested in learning more, please contact the Manager, Terri Mears (opens in a new window).
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