TAFE SA is committed to providing opportunities to students with disabilities to maximise their learning experience. Students with a disability or medical condition will have diverse needs and may require different levels of support or modifications to ensure an equal chance of success. The TAFE SA Disability Support Program provides support services and special arrangements to assist students with their study. Student Services counsellors can assist with access arrangements to minimise the effect of a disability without compromising the academic integrity of a student's program of study.
Access information kits
Kits are provided to students upon enrolment. Hard copy kits can be obtained from Student Services or Client Services staff. They contain:
Access plans
The negotiation of an access plan is one way TAFE SA can assist students with disabilities to identify and communicate their learning needs. The plan provides information to teaching and support staff to enable services to be adapted and made more responsive.
Access plans are generated by Student Services officers and a copy is provided only to the staff who are involved with its implementation.
Apprentices/trainees with a disability (DAAWS)
The Disabled Australian Apprentice Wage Support (DAAWS) scheme is a Commonwealth-funded initiative which supports apprentices/trainees to help them reach their potential as skilled workers.
For further information regarding the DAAWS program please contact Student Services at your local campus.
Assistive technology
Assistive or adaptive technology may include devices such as equipment, furniture, tools, hardware or software, which will assist students with disabilities or medical conditions to perform functions that otherwise, may be difficult. Some examples include screen readers, screen magnifiers, alternative keyboards or input devices, voice recognition software and text only browsers.
Companion card
To remove barriers that may prevent people who have disabilities benefiting from educational and employment opportunities, TAFE SA has joined the SA Companion Card community and offers the following services:
- A Companion Card holder studying at TAFE SA can have an attendant carer of their choice in class and there will be no impact on fees.
- Providing the companion meets the Minimum Entry Requirements and completes the course requirements, their tuition and qualification (certificate or diploma) will be provided free of charge in exchange for the attendant care provided to the Companion Card holder.
This service applies to students undertaking state-government-subsidised (FSI 500) courses only. For more information contact: sue.tanner@sa.gov.au
Inherent requirements
Commonwealth legislation requires education providers to provide reasonable adjustments that support the inclusion of people with disabilities. These reasonable adjustments include modification to assessment and provision of additional services; however adjustments are not provided that would undermine the core or inherent learning required.
Legislation & policy documents
Other resources, such as the Royal Society for the Blind, the Royal South Australian Deaf Society and Access Cabs, can also help students with a disability to access study.