AUT offers different types of support for students who are Deaf or have a disability or impairment.

On this page:

• Deaf and hearing-impaired students​
• Visually-impaired students
• Physically-impaired students
• Students with learning disabilities
• Other impairments
• Temporary injuries and ACC ​

Deaf and hearing-impaired students

AUT has NZSL interpreters who can interpret for students. At your individual needs assessment interview, they will assess and arrange the help you need.

We understand you’ll have your own communication style preferences. Contact us as soon as you can so we can make sure we arrange suitable resources for you. You can email the Disability Office at disability.offiice@aut.ac.nz.

Types of support for Deaf and hearing-impaired students

We can offer:

• Sign language interpreting for students fluent in NZSL
• Help and strategies for accessing lecture content and notes, like notes online
• Support to discuss your individual needs with lecturers and academic departments

Visually-impaired students

You may need print materials in alternative formats. Contact your lecturers as soon as possible to find out what your course materials are so they transcribed in time for you to use them.

Our Adaptive Technology and Alternative Formats Coordinator will assess you during your needs assessment interview​ and develop your support plan. We can arrange training on our different software programmes if you need it.

Types of support for visually-impaired students

We can offer:

• Advice on personalising assistive technology and hardware to meet your needs
• One-to-one training on available technology
• Access to study materials in alternative formats
• Support to discuss your individual needs with lecturers and academic departments
• Alternative arrangements for assessments and exams, like extra time, readers, the use of technology
• Help and strategies for accessing lecture content and notes, like notes online.

Physically-impaired students

Types of support for physically-impaired students

We can offer:

• Support to discuss your individual needs with lecturers and academic departments
• Alternative arrangements for assessments and examinations, like extra time, use of technology
• The use of technology to support independence
• Help and strategies for accessing lecture content and notes, like notes online.

Students with specific learning disabilities

‘Specific learning disabilities’ is a general term to describe challenges with listening, speaking, reading, writing, remembering, reasoning, or mathematics – like dyslexia, dyscalculia or an autistic spectrum disorder, for example. This could be a long term issue, or the result of an illness, medical condition or injury.

Getting support from us

If you have been diagnosed with a specific learning disability, it is important for us to see the report (usually from an educational psychologist) to ensure we can provide the best support for you.

If you don’t have an assessment report, but think is something that is impacting your study and causing you difficulties, you can arrange a meeting and learning assessment through AUT.

A learning assessment aims to find out what your strengths are and where you may need help. You’ll get support to develop plans which will help with your studies.

Types of support for students with specific learning disabilities

We can offer:

• Information on disability-related issues
• Access to a learning assessment
• Support to discuss your needs with programme leaders and lecturers
• Advice about specialised equipment and computer software for independent learning
• Help and strategies for accessing lecture content and notes, like notes online
• Help to managing your study load
• Alternative arrangements for assessments and exams, like extra time, use of technology

Other impairments

We recognise that students with depression and other mental health issues, medical conditions, chronic illnesses or other impairments may need extra help and resources while studying.

Contact us so we can arrange a needs assessment interview. This will help us determine what you need to maximise your capabilities and independence, and make sure you can participate as much as possible.

Types of support for students with other impairments

We can offer:

• Support to discuss your needs with lecturers and academic departments
• Alternative arrangements for assessments and exams, like extra time, use of technology
• Technology to support independence
• Help and strategies for accessing lecture content and notes, like notes online
• Help to study papers on a part-time basis
• AUT's Student Advisor - Mental Health​ (not a diagnostic service, but will discuss with you and your mental health practitioner to confirm diagnosis and needs).

Temporary injuries and ACC

If you have an accident resulting in an injury that affects your studies, you should contact your lecturers immediately. Your lecturers will tell you how they can help you. If you're going to be absent from classes for a long time, you must also contact the programme leader.

You must report your accident to ACC if you're going to need extra help to continue with your studies.

Help from your lecturers

Your lecturers may be able to:

• Agree to approve extensions or extra time for essays or exams.