This document outlines the policy of Paul Bowler Training in respect of the provision of Reasonable Accommodation to learners with disabilities and temporary impairments.
Paul Bowler Training is committed to ensuring, as far as practicable, that candidates with disabilities are enabled to demonstrate their knowledge in assessments on an equal basis to their peers.
The granting of reasonable accommodations will ensure fairness to all students without putting the integrity of the assessments at risk.
For the purpose of this policy the definition of disability is taken from the Equal Status Acts 2000 – 2011 and will apply to any student who might be considered as having a disability under those Acts.
Who can apply?
Learners with disabilities must make the company aware of their impairment and the need for reasonable accommodation at the beginning of their course so as to allow time for arrangement to be put in place. . The learner may be required to provide supporting evidence (where required).
Learners may apply for accommodation on the basis of a Disability or a temporary impairment.
Where candidates are awarded reasonable accommodation on a basis of a disability this will be granted for all assessments in the course that the learner is registered for, unless the learner is told otherwise in writing.
Where a candidate has been awarded reasonable accommodation for a temporary impairment this accommodation will be awarded for a single assessment only. If the impairment is ongoing the candidate will need to apply for reasonable accommodation and provide updated medical evidence for each additional assessment going forward.
How do you apply?
Learner with a Disability
Learners who wish to apply for reasonable accommodation need to contact the company and request Reasonable Accommodation.
All requests must be in writing and returned along with supporting medical/evidence.
This evidence must be relevant, complete and up to date from a medical or other suitably qualified professional. Reports from educational psychologists in relation to specific learning difficulties should not be more than five years old at the point of applications.
Applications received without supporting documentation will not be considered and will be returned to the learner
Candidates with a Temporary Impairment
Candidates with a Temporary Impairment must request the Reasonable Accommodation in writing.
Learners must provide medical confirmation/evidence of their impairment including expected duration of condition.
The application must be made as soon as possible or at least one day before the scheduled assessment.
Individualisation:
As a general rule, an adaptation to the form of delivery, which makes learning possible, will also assist in making assessment possible. It is important that the standard of the assessment is not diminished. Only the method(s) by which the learner demonstrates his/her attainment of the standard can be adjusted.
Examples of Reasonable Accommodation available:
Rest Breaks
Supervised rest breaks either inside or outside the assessment area should be allowed as is appropriate. A rest break can be flexible according to individual needs, e.g. 15 minutes every hour as opposed to one 30-minute period during a three-hour assessment. The time so used should not be deducted from the time allowed (where specified) to complete the assessment.
Extra Time
In the case of assessments that are based on time, additional time of up to 25% is the usual rule of thumb.
Readers
A reader is a person provided to assist a disabled student by reading assessment questions aloud without suggesting the answer. A reader is a person who, on request, will read to the learner:
- The entire or any part of the assessment;
- Any part of the learner’s answers (exactly, as they are ‘spoken’).
Readers are typically used by people with visual impairments, people who tire easily, people who have extreme muscle weakness and people with learning difficulties.
Only one reader per learner is permissible and the assessment should take place in a separate room or area.
A reader should not normally be the learner’s own trainer but there may be circumstances where this may be necessary. Only in exceptional circumstances and subject to approval by the Director, may a relative/somebody known to the learner act as a reader.
The cost of the reader will be borne by company.
Writers/scribes
A writer is a person who will, on request, write the answers exactly as given or dictated by a learner. A writer may also act as a reader and is often used in similar circumstances to a reader. As in the case of a reader, only one writer per learner is permissible and the assessment should take place in a separate room or area.
A writer/scribe should not normally be the learner’s own trainer but there may be circumstances where this may be necessary. Only in exceptional circumstances and subject to approval by the Director, may a relative/somebody known to the learner act as a writer/scribe.
The cost of the writer/scribe will be borne by company
Audio-tapes
Audio-taped assessments and responses are useful in some cases, e.g. visual impairment, motor difficulties. The centre should supply the assessment tape and a blank tape to learners at the same time as other learners. However, in order to minimise disruption to other learners, the person should either use headphones or complete their assessment in a separate room or area. Such provision may give rise to the need for extra assessment supervision personnel.
Enlarged print to A3 size
Some learners, usually those with visual impairments, may simply require their assessment papers in enlarged print, i.e. A3 size paper.
Examination papers in colour
Some learners, especially those who have dyslexia, may require their assessment paper in a colour other than black and white – for example, black on yellow, or black on grey. A gloss/highly sheen coated paper may also be unsuitable. The learners themselves should be consulted.
Data protection:
All applications received in respect of Reasonable Accommodation will be treated confidentially. Information and evidence received in relation to disability will be retained only until the relevant learner has passed all their assessments.