University of Tasmania, Australia

A Learning Access Plan (LAP) is the formal document developed through Disability Services that details the specialist services, study and assessment accommodations available to an individual student with a disability and/or health condition. Students who need support and study adjustments are required to provide documentation from a health practitioner or if diagnosed with a Learning Disability, required to provide a psychological educational assessment from a relevant practitioner (e.g. School or Educational Psychologist). Once documentation is provided, an appointment can be made to meet with a Disability Adviser to develop a LAP. Please note that Graduate Research candidates are not placed on LAP plans; they are instead individually case managed. For more information refer to the information sheet on the Graduate Research website. 

The following detail is provided to define the categories in a LAP. Each LAP is categorised as either:

• Temporary (up to 31 July 20XX)
• Temporary (up to 31 December 20XX) or
• Permanent

If ongoing study and assessment accommodations are required by a student with a LAP of a temporary nature, in most cases, further medical documentation is required and a new LAP is created.

All LAPs are reviewed each semester to ensure the University is providing the students with appropriate supports and accommodations.

A student with a permanent LAP may have a new plan created if their condition changes, or the availability/appropriateness of support services change. Additionally, a new LAP will be required if a student's course code changes.

The LAP will indicate the type of disability as hearing, vision, medical, mobility, physical, mental health or learning disability. Some students with more complex issues may have a combination of types listed.

The arrangements which are approved by the Faculty(ies) Associate Dean, Teaching and Learning, for the student, are categorised under the relevant service provider and specify the study and assessment accommodations that are required to appropriately support the student with their studies. Some services have a service level agreement, specifying which level of service is required to meet the needs of the student.

Learning Access Plan (LAP) Procedure

The LAP procedure ensures fair, reasonable and consistent assessment of implications, documentation and implementation of the services and adjustments.

Actions		Responsible Person
Step 1	Download the Access to Assistance for Students with Disability/Health Condition form which includes a Health Practitioner's Report form or if you have a recognised Learning Disability you are required to provide a hard copy of a psychological educational/psychometric assessment completed no earlier than senior schooling years from a relevant practitioner (e.g. School or Educational Psychologist).	Student
Step 2	Have your Health Practitioner complete the Report form in relation to: nature of the disability/health condition; impact of disability/health condition/medication on study at UTAS, including performance in lectures, tutorials, laboratories, work placement and assessment or exam situations recommendations in relation to any adjustments and/or accommodations to assist study.	Health Practioner with Student
Step 3	Submit Health Practitioner's Report or Psychological Educational/Psychometric Assessment to Student Centre and make an appointment with the Disability Adviser.	Student

Procedure		Responsible Person
Step 1	Review the Health Practitioner's Report and any additional information provided by specialist community service providers or Psychological Educational/Psychometric Assessment.	Disability Adviser
Step 2	Refer to the practitioner's recommendations and interview the student to evaluate the impact of disability/health condition.	Disability Adviser and Student
Step 3	Identify obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act and  University policies in relation to student's participation in their  chosen course/units (including inherent requirements of the  course/units).	Disability Adviser
Step 4	Identify services and adjustments through consideration of the following factors: implications of the disability and/or health condition which are likely to impact on participation on components throughout the course the student's skills at that time (i.e. assistive technology, equipment, compensatory strategies) strategies for developing UTAS Graduate Attributes, which are; knowledge, communication skills, problem solving skills, global perspective and social responsibility what is practically possible (e.g. the nature of assessment adjustments) the student's preference for services and adjustments which are adjudged fair and reasonable.	Disability Adviser and Student
Step 5	Document the implications of the students' disability and/or health condition on study, relevant services and reasonable study and assessment adjustments within the Learning Access Plan application - student signs completed version.	Disability Adviser and Student
Step 6	Submit completed Learning Access Plan application to the Associate Dean Teaching and Learning (AD T&L) within 1 work day.	Disability Adviser
Step 7	Approve (discuss with Disability Adviser as required) Learning Access Plan application and return signed copy to Disability Adviser within 7  work days.	Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning)
Step 8	Provide secured electronic copy of approved Learning Access Plan to  student (with a LAP Distribution List), AD T&L and Examinations Office within 2 work days.	Disability Adviser
Step 9	Distribute approved Learning Access Plan to relevant UTAS  service providers and academic staff for implementationm within  10 calendar days initially (of receiving approved LAP), and prior to end  of week 2 of each new semester ongoing.	Student
Step 10	Review services and adjustments and alter where necessary through consultation with student and UTAS staff. All LAPs to be reviewed twice per year.	Disability Adviser

Note: All timeframes stated above in this process are contingent on requests for further information.