Reasonable adjustments enable you to participate in the academic assessment process on a fair basis, and according to your preferences. Find out how to arrange reasonable adjustments that work for you.

Reasonable adjustments allow you to fully participate in learning, assessment, university facilities and services. When it comes to assessments, for example, a reasonable adjustment could be making a presentation to lecturers rather than in front of a group, or having extra time in an exam.  At QMU, reasonable adjustments are recorded in an Individual Learning Plan (ILP). Under the UK Equality Act 2010, reasonable adjustments are required where disabled students experience substantial disadvantage in comparison with non-disabled people.  Universities have an anticipatory duty to provide reasonable adjustments for students. This means your university needs to plan ahead and address any barriers that may potentially affect your studies and well-being.

Some universities and some courses have risen to this challenge by putting in place systems that are on offer to all students, whether registered disabled or not. However, currently this is the exception rather than the norm, and the more established route is to offer individual reasonable adjustments for specific requirements.

At QMU, the following adjustments used to be recommended for students with an Individual Learning Plan (ILP) but are now available to all students as part of our QMU Policy on Inclusive Learning and Teaching Materials

• Lecture outlines or presentation slides, such as PowerPoint slides, for lectures/seminars should be made available to students at least 24 hours in advance of the class.
• Permission to audio record in lectures. Students will need to inform the lecturer that they are recording, and the recording will be strictly for personal use. See the guidance on recording in Section 12 of the QMU Acceptable Use of IT Policy
• Student can move around or leave teaching area discreetly without challenge
• Ensure captions are available on all audio-visual materials

For an Individual Learning Plan (ILP) with individualised adjustments, you need to have told your university about your additional support needs. If your additional support need is that you are autistic, you may need to decide whether to disclose this identity or diagnosis. If you disclose on your course application before starting the univeristy, the Disability team will contact you by email to arrange a time to meet and discuss your needs. If you did not disclose on your application, you can still make an appointment with our team by either emailing DisabilityAdvisers@qmu.ac.uk or, once you have matriculated, booking a Disability Adviser appointment on Student Central.

It is important that you are actively involved in this process, and also in making decisions regarding reasonable adjustments that work for you. This is not about being singled out – it’s about getting the best, personalised support for you.

• Negotiate your reasonable adjustments, rather than taking them as they come – what works for you individually?
• Focus on learning outcomes rather than assessment procedures – what are alternative ways for you to evidence your knowledge and understanding?
• Ask academics to be creative, and potentially move away from tradition. Acknowledge that this can be uncomfortable for them.
• Remember that the Disability team is always there to support you, but they won’t necessarily know the academic requirements.
• Use the Autism&Uni Best Practice Guides as support (see page on UDL)
• Check your QMU email account regularly and reply promptly to all communications regarding your support and reasonable adjustments to ensure support is put in place when it’s needed.

The Equality Challenge Unit has published guidance on reasonable adjustments to assist universities in planning and implementing them:

https://www.advance-he.ac.uk/knowledge-hub/managing-reasonable-adjustments-higher-education