1. Introduction
The Nelson Mandela University’s Universal Accessibility and Disability Services (UADS) offers concessions to students with certain permanent and/or temporary disabilities and/or disorders who may not be able to reflect their true ability under standard formal assessment (test and examinations) conditions. Nelson Mandela University’s UADS aims to assist students in reaching their full academic potential by aiding and/or concessions that ensure equitable, reasonable, and appropriate access to higher education, based on the national standards applicable to tertiary education in South Africa, whilst not prejudicing deserving students, their peers and/or any academic program.
This document is specifically aimed at students who wish to apply for concessions (extra time, scribes, etc.). It is written in accordance with the National Plan for Higher Education (Ministry of Education, February 2001), the Department of Education, Education White Paper 6: Special Needs Education (2001), and the Nelson Mandela University Institutional Policy on Reasonable Academic Accommodations, 2022.
It is the applicant's responsibility to read through the information provided in this document, ensure that they understand its content, and seek clarification where required.
2. Supporting Appropriate Medical / Psychological Documentation
To ensure effectiveness and consistency, comprehensive and complete documentation and/or reports are required (Take note of the documentation/reports requirements below).
Supporting appropriate medical/psychological documentation is required by the Universal Accessibility & Disability Service's Reasonable Accommodation Committee (RAC) when reviewing academic accommodations, particularly for tests and examinations. Whilst health professionals may submit recommendations regarding academic accommodations, the Reasonable Academic Committee (RAC) which is familiar with the educational environment at Nelson Mandela University determines the extent to which the recommended academic accommodations are appropriate in this context. Thus, the recommendations by the health professional are helpful but not binding. Should there be insufficient diagnostic or clinical information in support of the requested academic accommodations; students may be asked to submit new and/or additional documentation. Universal Accessibility & Disability Services will work with students on a case-by-case basis to determine what documentation is appropriate under the circumstances.
3.DOCUMENTATION / REPORTS REQUIREMENTS
Please take note of the documentation/report requirements that must accommodate an application form (refer to the table below for further requirements for specific diagnosis):
REPORTS MAY NOT BE OLDER THAN 2 YEARS
-
Only reports/letters from relevant HPCSA registered psychiatrists, neurologists, psychologists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, optometrists, orthopaedists, audiologists, acousticians, general practitioners (GP), psychometrists and other medical specialists will be accepted.
-
These reports/documents must be dated and signed, and contain the practitioner's registration category, registration number, practice number, and contact details.
-
A history of the diagnosis/condition must be indicated in reports.
-
The date of assessments, assessments used, and assessment results that led to a diagnosis need to be provided.
-
Specific diagnostic data (test results) and date of diagnosis must be included in reports (indicate / ICD 10 code diagnosis).
-
Evidence of previous interventions and outcomes thereof must be provided.
-
The nature of the diagnosis/condition, duration, and likely effects need to be stipulated.
-
Evidence of previous interventions and outcomes thereof must be provided e.g. academic support services e.g. Emthonjeni student wellness, and Student success coaches.
DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED FOR EACH DISABILITY/DISORDER
|
DISABILITY/ DISORDER TYPE
|
DIAGNOSTIC REQUIREMENTS
|
|
Visual Disabilities
|
Comprehensive and relevant report from an Optometrist / Ophthalmologist including requirements as stipulated above. Additional reading ability reports can be added.
|
|
Hearing Impairment
|
Comprehensive and relevant report from an Audiologist / Acoustician including requirements stipulated above. Include evidence, should the extent of the condition be at such a level where physical aids and/or interventions are not sufficient, and concessions are required. Please clearly indicate the required assistance on the application form.
|
|
Speech Impairment
|
Comprehensive and relevant report from a Speech Therapist / medical specialist including requirements stipulated above. Please clearly indicate the required concession assistance on the application form.
|
|
Specific Medical Disorders
|
Comprehensive and relevant report from a general practitioner (GP) and/or medical specialists including requirements stipulated above. Please provide adequate proof, e.g. X-rays, treatment intervention, medication prescription, etc. in addition to the practitioner/specialist report.
|
|
Physical Impairment includes temporary (e.g. hand injury) and permanent disabilities.
|
Permanent disability: Specialist report according to requirements stipulated above (e.g. neurological report, physiotherapist report, etc.).
Temporary disability: Diagnostic report according to requirements stipulated above from a GP / medical specialist, with additional evidence (X-rays, etc.)
Please note: For temporary disabilities, please submit a concessions application as soon as the injury occurs and/or upon return to studies
|
|
Neurodevelopmental Disorders:
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) / attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
|
Comprehensive and relevant diagnostic report from neurologist and/or psychiatrist according to requirements stipulated above. Stipulating when the applicant was diagnosed, treatment/medication prescribed, duration of the patient being on medication, any side effects, treatment/medication effectiveness, why concessions are required in addition to treatment/medication use, prognosis, etc.
Any other medical documentation that may be of importance related to the applicant's functioning, e.g. that of a clinical-, counseling-, or educational psychologist that assessed the applicant for ADD/ADHD or the occupational therapist's supporting report
If the applicant was diagnosed by a GP and did not consult a specialist or clinical-, counseling- or educational psychologist for an evaluation, please have an evaluation conducted and provide a report.
The report must include feedback on:
-
Psychometric assessments (see below)
-
Collateral information (parents, former teachers, occupational therapist, speech therapist, consulting doctor)
-
Background information and proof, history of the condition
An evaluation should comprise the following Sections (Intellectual ability assessments; Graded, correctly aged, and normed diagnostic assessments; Assessments that report on possible malingering behavior; Neuropsychological assessments; Personality.
|
|
Specific Psychiatric Disorders:
Mood / Anxiety-related disorders
|
No mental disorder or psychological condition that is effectively being treated (with medication and/or psychotherapy and/or any other procedure) can be used as motivation for concessions.
Should the treatment appear to be unsuccessful, the practitioner (e.g. the psychiatrist) should indicate in writing why the intervention is not effective, which alternatives are being considered, how the condition is related to the action of writing a test or examination, why extra writing time during tests and examinations should be provided as a compensatory measure, as well as an estimated time of a better prognosis.
Letter from psychiatrist containing the following information: when the applicant was diagnosed, treatment / psychotherapeutic intervention/medication prescribed, duration of the patient being on medication, the effectiveness of medication and interventions, any side effects, etc.
Any other medical documentation which may be of importance related to the applicant’s functioning.
Letter from a clinical or counseling psychologist (therapeutic progress report) including information on commitment, duration, and progress made during therapy, comment on applicant's overall functioning.
If the applicant has not seen a clinical or counselling psychologist within the past 3-6 months, an evaluation of the applicant’s psychological functioning should be conducted and a report should be provided.
|
5. CONCLUSION
Students need to allow three to four weeks after application and submission of all the relevant documentation.
For any additional information you may need, please contact the Universal Accessibility & Disability Services.