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HSC disability provisions guide for teachers and parents
Applying for HSC disability provisions
Disability provision applications
Schools are responsible for submitting disability provision applications. However, students and parents should be involved throughout the application process. They can do this by:
- discussing the impact of the student’s disability with the school throughout schooling, including possible adjustments and support required for the student to access the curriculum as well as exams
- advising the school when the student’s scheduled specialist appointments are taking place. In this way, the school can provide medical forms requiring completion at the appropriate time so that a special appointment just for this purpose is not required
- keeping the school up to date with any changes in impact of the disability, medications etc.
Application process for schools
1
Schools nominate at least one, preferably two, disability provision points of contact
NESA recommends that these are members of the school learning and support team who are familiar with the student’s issues. A school may choose different contact people for each student.
2
Schools submit all applications for HSC disability provisions through Schools Online
- principals can obtain access to Schools Online by calling Student Records on 9367 8001
- principals can set up an account and provide access for staff members.
Supporting evidence for applications
Each application must provide:
- Evidence of a diagnosed disability – NESA medical, vision or hearing form(s) need(s) to be completed by a qualified health professional relevant to the condition(s). This must include the health professional’s comments regarding the impact on the student’s ability to access and respond to questions in an exam situation.
- Functional evidence – specific measurable data that demonstrate the level of impact in an exam situation. For example, reading results, spelling results and writing samples that meet NESA requirements as outlined on the NESA application. The evidence must be relevant to the provisions requested – for example there is no need to provide writing samples for a student with reading or spelling difficulties.
- Teacher comments – these must show how the student’s disability affects them and how provisions implemented at school address their needs in reading and/or responding to exam questions.
Detailed information about the type of evidence that is required for common provisions is included in Types of evidence.
Key dates
| Disability provision applications for: | Applications open | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Students for whom the impact of their permanent disability in exam situations will not change, for example, students with diabetes, vision impaired students requiring braille, students with physical disabilities such as cerebral palsy and spina bifida, students with long standing developmental coordination disorder causing illegible or painful writing, requiring a writer. | Year 10 study year | End of Term 1 of HSC year |
| Students for whom the impact of their disability in exam situations may change, for example, specific learning disorders, ADHD, epilepsy, Crohn’s disease. | Term 4 the year before the HSC | End of Term 1 of HSC year |
| Students for whom the impact of their disability in exam situations is variable and unstable, for example, newly diagnosed psychiatric/neurological disorders. Applications for these conditions should only be submitted after intervention and/or therapy has been undertaken and evidence of strategies are in place to support the need for provisions requested. Details of strategies in place must be provided in the application. | Year 12, Term 3 | End of week 6 of Term 3 of HSC year |
| Students who require emergency provisions for late injury and illness, for example, car or sporting accidents, broken arm, recent surgeries. | 4 weeks before the start of HSC exams | Up until day of exam If an injury/illness occurs on the exam day or the day before the exam, schools should contact NESA Student Support on (02) 9367 8117. |
Assessment of applications
NESA reviews all applications and makes decisions based on the evidence submitted by the school using NESA approved, evidence-based guidelines.
NESA has a panel of specialists that includes medical practitioners, educational psychologists and consultants for the visually or hearing impaired. NESA requests expert advice from this panel as required.
When a decision has been made, the decision letter listing the approved and/or declined provisions is provided to the principal and student through Schools Online, with a copy for the principal and the student. The student will also receive an alert on Students Online.
Appeals
Schools can appeal NESA’s decision to decline a provision within 14 days of receiving the decision letter.
Parents or students wishing to appeal should speak with their school, which is responsible for submitting the appeal.
The appeal must include:
- the reason why the decision is considered unacceptable, referring to evidence supplied in the original application
- new supporting evidence. This may include a further medical report that clearly states why the student requires the provision with supporting evidence, or additional reading, writing or spelling test results. Providing medical reports that are older than the ones already provided will not assist with the appeal process.
NESA will consider the appeal, make a decision and notify the school on Schools Online within 21 days of receiving the appeal.
Cost of applications
NESA has made the application process as practical and efficient as possible. In most cases, it will involve no cost or minimal cost to the student. NESA only requests evidence that is specific to the provisions being requested. Schools and students do not need to spend time or money obtaining unnecessary information. See the Types of evidence page for more information.
- Most functional evidence can be obtained by schools (through reading and spelling tests, samples of a student’s writing) at no additional cost to the school or student. Writing samples are usually from the student’s own assessment tasks.
- In most cases, medical/hearing/vision reports can be obtained when the student regularly sees their health professional and will not require additional appointments or cost.
- Teachers are required to comment on the impact of provisions the student uses in exam situations. Collecting this information should be part of schools’ usual practice in evaluating the appropriateness and effectiveness of in-school adjustments.
Note: Students benefit from early and complete applications for provisions. Appeals or applications submitted close to the exam date may not be resolved in time for that exam.
How to apply for disability provisions for HSC exam
1
Identify a need for a disability provision
A student, parent or school identifies a need for a disability provision.
2
Discuss the process
The school explains the application process and eligibility requirements to the student/parent.
3
Complete the application
To apply:
- identify the provisions sought
- provide evidence of a diagnosed disability and its impact on the student in an exam situation
- collect functional evidence (for example, reading, spelling and writing results)
- collect teacher comments from all examinable courses on student’s exam needs and impact of current provisions (if used)
- complete student and principal declarations.
4
Submit the application through Schools Online
Submit known or existing conditions by the last day of Term 1 of the HSC year. Emergency provisions - submit emergency provisions immediately before and during the HSC exam period. Call Student Support on (02) 9367 8117.
5
The decision
NESA notifies the student that a decision is available through Students Online. The principal receives the decision letter through Schools Online and the school gives the student a copy of the letter.
6
Appeals
The school submits new or additional evidence through Schools Online within 14 days of receiving our decision letter. An independent officer, principal and student reviews the appeal. We provide the decision letter through Schools Online.
Related links
- Principles for exam modifications
- Rules for specific provisions
- Previous years' disability provisions.
Managing exam stress
Managing exam stress: printable fact sheets designed to help students with stress ahead of exams. They include evidence-based advice for:
Contact us
For advice on other provisions, schools can contact the NESA Student Support:
- phone: (02) 9367 8117
- email: studentsupport@nesa.nsw.edu.au
Parents and students should contact their school in the first instance.