Key services for students
We offer a broad range of quality services which are tailored to your individual needs.
You and your disability and inclusion adviser will discuss which of our services are right for you.
To access any of these services, make an appointment to see a disability and inclusion adviser as early as possible to ensure support is in place before you need it.
Commonly-used services
Access suites, disability and inclusion advisers and education access plans are our most commonly-used services.
Access suites
Access suites are quiet places for students with disabilities to rest and study, located at both Kelburn and Pipitea campus. The spaces are also where you can access ergonomic furniture, equipment, technology or amenities that are not found in general University study spaces. All students registered with us are automatically granted entry to our access suites.
To access this service
- All students registered with Disability Services are automatically granted entry to access suites. Just use your swipe card and let our reception know if there are any issues.
Disability and inclusion advisers
A disability and inclusion adviser will work with you to identify and resolve learning or participation barriers. They can also assist with connecting you to other services on campus. All disability and inclusion advisers are allied health professionals and will become your main contact at Te Amaru—Disability Services.
Discover the steps you’ll go through with your disability and inclusion adviser.
To access this service
- All students registered with Disability Services are allocated a disability and inclusion adviser. Contact our reception to meet with yours.
Disability inclusion arrangements
A disability inclusion arrangements document can be completed with a disability and inclusion adviser. It outlines the impact of your disability on your ability to participate and study, your strategies for participating and learning, disability inclusive approaches requested from staff for teaching and participation, and the support provided by Disability Services. This document are designed to support you to articulate your needs to staff and to have ownership of your university experience.
To access this service
- New or returning student that hasn’t seen Disability Services: please make an appointment with a disability and inclusion adviser if you would like a disability inclusion arrangements document.
- Returning student and have seen a disability and inclusion adviser: please email your disability and inclusion adviser to check and update your disability inclusion arrangements document if this has not been sent to your course coordinators and you.
Inclusive learning software
Inclusive learning software is available for students and staff to make learning and engaging more accessible in the modern digital world.
Learn more about the inclusive learning software on offer.
Other key services
The following list describes all other key services available to students registered with Disability Services.
Adaptive technology and digital adviser
Our adaptive technology and digital adviser is available to provide you with advice on identifying adaptive technology to meet your needs, training on the various adative technology available on campus, and advocacy when applying for funding for personal technology.
Workshops to introduce you to adaptive technology are held throughout the year and on-to-one training is also available.
Some examples of adaptive technology available on campus are:
- Dragon NaturallySpeaking for voice recognition—for impairments that impact on keyboard/mouse use
- OpenBook for hardcopy reading and conversion—for impairments impacting on access to print, e.g. vision impairments, specific learning difficulties, etc.
- CCTVs for magnification of text and objects—for impairments affecting vision
- various ergonomic computer peripherals—for various dexterity and movement related impairments.
Accessible assessment arrangements
Accessible assessment arrangements are available for tests or exams. You may require an accessible arrangement if the impact of your impairment means you need extra time, a reader/writer, a computer, a smaller assessment room, or ergonomic furniture.
To access this service
- Discuss with your disability and inclusion adviser whether this service is right for you.
Ergonomic furniture
We offer a range of ergonomic equipment, such as:
- ergonomic chairs
- kneelers and foot rests
- lecterns
- high tables for standing study.
All access suites have a full range of ergonomic furniture and these items can be moved to lecture and tutorial rooms when required.
Mobility parking
Mobility parking is available if you hold a CCS Disability Action mobility card, or have been granted access by a disability and inclusion adviser. Parking is timetabled to fit in with your study hours.
To access this service
- Hold a CCS Disability Action Permit or have had mobility parking before: email disability@vuw.ac.nz
- Don't have a CCS Disability Action Permit: make an appointment with a disability and inclusion adviser.
Mobility transport
If your disability affects your ability to move across campus or between campuses and is not covered by ACC then we may be able to provide you with taxi chits to assist.
To access this service
- Discuss with your disability and inclusion adviser whether this service is right for you.
Note-taking and electronic live transcription
Note-taking and electronic live transcription are available if your impairment significantly impacts on your real-time engagement with lecture information. Your disability and inclusion adviser will identify which note-taking service best meets your needs.
Note-taking
Note-taking provides tailored, typed lecture notes from a note-taker employed by Disability Services. These are summaries of the lecture content rather than full notes, and will be provided to you after each lecture.
Electronic live transcription
Electronic live transcription is when a note-taker types what a lecturer is saying into their laptop, which you can read on your laptop. This service is for students who cannot access oral or written information.
To access this service
- Discuss with your disability and inclusion adviser whether this service is right for you.
Sign language interpreters
Sign language interpreters provide access to Deaf students who use New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) as their preferred language. Interpreters are qualified professionals who interpret the full content of lectures, tutorials or other events into NZSL.
To access this service
- Discuss with your disability and inclusion adviser whether this service is right for you.
Specific learning disability assessments
If you have a specific learning disability, or suspect that you might, we can help you determine what it might be and what support you'll require. Screening tests can be used to identify specific learning disabilities, or behaviour associated with those disabilities.
We work closely with Student Learning, who can assist you with learning strategies, such as reading, study skills, note-taking, essay writing and exam techniques.
Additionally, we refer a small number of students each year to an educational psychologist for assessment. After this assessment, we work with the student to implement the recommendations, which often involves adaptive technology or other kinds of tailored support.
To access this service
- Discuss with your disability and inclusion adviser whether this service is right for you.