Disability Support Services Disability Support Services are the appointed service providers at Victoria to provide individual assessments, to make formal recommendations, and to co-ordinate the location and provision of services. Once a student with a disability identifies their specific needs, the Student Advisor assesses the appropriateness of the request, and formally recommends appropriate means of academic accommodation. Faculties, Schools and Departments Under Victoria s Charter, the University s Faculties, Schools and Departments have an obligation to ensure that it is possible for a student with a disability to undertake university study in whatever discipline the student wishes to pursue, unless the discipline and the disability are fundamentally incompatible. It is very important to note that there are very few disciplines in which disability is fundamentally incompatible with the area of study. Examples of such incompatibility are often extreme, such as a student who is blind wishing to train to be a pilot or a student who uses a wheelchair applying for a job as a construction worker.
Technological advances are such that most disciplines are open to students with disabilities.
For example, through the use of a computerised voice a student with no or very limited speech can work in the media. A person with limited hand control can study architecture and use a computer to draw plans. If you believe your discipline is incompatible with the particular disability of a student, it is very important to first talk about your concerns with the student and with Disability Support Services. Schools and departments are encouraged to keep their own records of successful accommodations for students with disabilities. This can serve not only as a precedent file for the department, but can also assist other departments which may face similar issues and help the university to develop consistent responses.