Arranging disability support
Students who have a diagnosis, disability, impairment or medical condition can contact Disability Support Services for information and support to help them participate fully in learning.
Who we can help
Specialist advice and support is offered to students who:
- Have a confirmed impairment or diagnosis
- Are Deaf or hearing-impaired
- Are blind or vision-impaired
- Have a specific learning disability (like dyslexia, dyscalculia, Asperger's and autistic spectrum disorders)
- Have mental health issues
- Have mobility issues
- Have an impairment, long-term injury or illness
When to contact us
We suggest you contact us as early as possible to discuss how we can help you. However, it's never too late during the course of your studies to seek support and advice. Your transcript will not display the support you receive.
Contact us for more information or to book an appointment.
Identifying the support you need: needs assessment interviews
We'll invite you to an individual assessment interview where we'll work with you to identify what support you need for your studies at AUT. The support we offer you is designed to maximise your independence in learning. If needed, AUT can also support you to access an external educational needs assessment.
Your cultural identity and needs are important. You can bring a support person to your interview if you want, or we can arrange for one of our cultural advisors to be present.
Verifying your impairment or disability
Your individual assessment may identify your need for specialist equipment or software, or other types of specific support or staff support.
To access the right resources, you need to give documents verifying your impairment or disability.
Documentation types
You must provide one of the following:
- Medical evidence of your impairment or condition
- Valid supporting professional assessments of your educational needs.
Who can provide verification
You can get verification of your impairment or disability from:
- An educational psychologist, or similar
- A primary health care professional
- A registered disability provider – like Blind Low Vision NZ or Deaf Aotearoa
- AUT's student advisor - mental health – this is not a diagnostic service, but an advisor will talk with you and your mental health practitioner to confirm diagnoses and needs
If you're unsure about the documentation you need to provide, contact us at the Student Hub.
Contact us
Need help or have a question?
Contact Disability Support Services
Phone: +64 9 921 9210
Email: disability.office@aut.ac.nz
Sharing information with your lecturers
We'll make sure your lecturers and departments know what support you need and who will provide it.If there are changes to your programme that affect what you need, you must contact us so that we can review and adapt any arrangements.