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Disability provisions program

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Section 20A(2) of the Education Act 1990 (NSW) authorises NESA to set and publish rules and procedures pertaining to candidates requesting disability provisions at tests or exams for the award of the HSC. 

Disability provisions have been designed to meet NESA’s obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) and Disability Standards for Education 2005.

About disability provisions

  1. Disability provisions:
    1. address students’ exam needs impacted by one or more of the following categories of disability:
      1. learning, and/or
      2. medical, and/or
      3. vision, and/or
      4. hearing.
    2. are determined on the basis of functional evidence of impact, and
    3. provide practical support for students with disability to access HSC exams, not to achieve potential.1

Footnotes

  1. The practical support does not include any adjustments to marks in an exam.

Categories

HSC (assessment)HSC credentialSchools Online

Approving disability provisions

  1. NESA may approve disability provisions that provide access to the HSC exams for students whose permanent or temporary disability prevents them from doing so in a normal exam situation.
  2. NESA will not approve disability provisions:
    1. solely on the basis of a diagnosis
    2. if it confers an advantage over students without that provision
    3. based on students’ stated or perceived difficulties when undertaking HSC courses or preparing for HSC exams
    4. based on a student’s lack of familiarity with the English language, and
    5. for students with episodic conditions1 that might occur during the HSC exam, any occurrence of these conditions will be subject to consideration under NESA’s Illness/Misadventure program.

Online resources

For further information

Please contact Student Support on (02) 9367 8117 or by email at studentsupport@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

Footnotes

  1. For example, epilepsy or asthma.

Categories

HSC (assessment)HSC credentialSchools Online

Applying for disability provisions

  1. Principals must apply for HSC disability provisions on behalf of students for known conditions by completing the online application form in Loading  by the last day of Term 1 in the year the student sits the HSC exams.
  2. Applications must include all relevant evidence (including a diagnosis and the precise nature of the disability and the effect on exam performance) and address application requirements.
  3. Students must:
    1. obtain and complete the student declaration form, and
    2. bear responsibility for any costs incurred when obtaining independent reports, such as health reports for medical conditions.
  4. NESA will:
    1. advise the school of the decision in Schools Online
    2. notify students that a decision is available in Students Online, and
    3. inform the Presiding Officer of the approved provisions.

Online resources

Related ACE Rules

For further information

Please contact Student Support on (02) 9367 8117 or by email at studentsupport@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

Categories

HSC (assessment)HSC credentialHSC (curriculum)

Adjustments for school-based assessment tasks

  1. Schools must ensure that students with disability can access and participate in education on the same basis as other students, as required under the Loading .
  2. Through collaborative curriculum planning, the school must determine, and implement, reasonable adjustments for a student with disability for school-based assessment tasks. Adjustments are actions taken that enable a student with disability to access syllabus outcomes and content on the same basis as other students, as required under the Loading .
  3. Schools are responsible for any decision to determine adjustments to school-based assessment activities and tasks, including in-school tests.
  4. Adjustments at a school level are not disability provisions for the HSC.
  5. Adjustments for school-based assessment tasks may be different to disability provisions approved for HSC exams. However schools must still provide adjustments for school-based assessment.

Online resources

For further information

Please contact Student Support on (02) 9367 8117 or by email at studentsupport@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

Categories

HSC (assessment)HSC credentialSchools Online

Appealing a declined HSC disability provisions application

  1. A student may appeal NESA’s decision to decline their application for HSC disability provisions.
  2. Schools must submit their student’s appeal in Loading  within 14 days of receiving the decision letter.
  3. The school’s appeal for the student must:
    1. state why the NESA decision is unacceptable, and
    2. include new evidence1 supporting why the student needs the provision(s).
  4. NESA will review the appeal and advise the school of its decision in Schools Online within 21 calendar days.

Online resources

For further information

Please contact Student Support on (02) 9367 8117 or by email at studentsupport@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

Footnotes

  1. For example, a medical report.

adjustments

Actions taken to enable a student with disability to access and participate in education on the same basis as other students, in accordance with the Disability Standards for Education 2005.

assessment activities

The varied types of activities that enable a student to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding so that a teacher can gather evidence on student performance relative to the syllabus outcomes.

collaborative curriculum planning

The process to determine the most appropriate curriculum options and adjustments for a student with disability. It should take place within the broader context of personalised planning that includes interventions and other supports to address identified student learning and support needs.

disability provisions

Practical support available to students to enable a student with disability to access and participate in HSC exams. Disability provisions have been designed to meet NESA’s obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) and Disability Standards for Education 2005.

episodic condition

A health condition characterised by fluctuating periods and degrees of illness and wellness.

functional evidence

Evidence of the impact of a condition or disability on how a student functions in an exam situation. For example, a student's performance on approved reading and spelling tests, work samples that include extended responses, and teacher comments on adjustments that have been trialled at school.

illness

A medical incident or condition which allegedly impacted the student’s performance in the exam. For example, an asthma attack or bleeding nose during the exam.

misadventure

An incident or event that is unexpected; and is beyond a student's control; and prevents attendance or diminishes exam performance.

permanent disability

A disability that does not change and that impacts a student’s ability to function in exam conditions. For example, physical disabilities such as cerebral palsy and spina bifida; longstanding developmental coordination disorder causing illegible or painful writing, requiring a writer; vision impairment, requiring braille.

Presiding Officer

Person responsible for managing supervisors and coordinating the delivery and conduct of HSC exams at an exam centre. They are nominated by the school principal and employed by NESA to undertake their responsibilities.

temporary disability

A disability that temporarily impacts a student’s ability to function in exam conditions. For example, a broken arm.