Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who do I contact if I cannot read the material the Lecturers are displaying in my lectures?
Find out from the Lecturer or Course Co-ordinator if the overheads or PowerPoint slides are available in the library or through the web. If this is not the case in your course then contact the Lecturer with your problem and he/she should be able to provide you with copies of the presentation material at the beginning of each lecture.
2. I know I'm going to have problems with mobility in my labs. Who can assist me with completing parts of the assessment that I am having difficulty with due to my restricted mobility?
Contact the Disability Resource Service, disabilities@canterbury.ac.nz and if you are eligible we will be able to find someone qualified to assist you in your laboratory work.
3. This is my first time away from home and not living with my parents. I know I am going to need a carer to help me with my personal needs, where do I find one and who can I apply to for funding?
Personal care is funded through Needs Assessment Services and ACC. You may like to look at some of the organisations on the links page of this website or in the Information for Students with Disabilities Handbook.
4. The library entrance is impossible for me to get into. Is there another way of accessing the library without using those awful stairs?
Access to the Central Library for students who use wheelchairs or have other mobility needs is provided opposite the Security Office on Level 1 and is able to be accessed through automatic opening doors. This entrance gives users access to a glass lift which will transport them to level 2, the main floor of the library building (and Central Library), but especially so for users with either temporary or permanent disabilities.
5. I would like to be able to talk to other students who have a similar disability to mine. Is there a student support group on campus? How can I contact others like me?
The Disability Resource Service arranges social meetings for students during the year at different venues on the campus.
6. I don't want any special attention by Lecturers and I don't want the Lecturer to know that I am a student with a disability but it is really hard because I need their help. Will they understand and treat me the same as any other student?
A Disability Liaison Person has been appointed in each department. If you do not feel comfortable approaching the Lecturer or Course Co-ordinator then you may like to see the Disability Liaison Person in that department.
7. I can't write for long periods of time but have been managing ok in my lectures, but because of the up coming exams I am writing more and I know I will have to write for 3 hours during my exams. I don't want my wrist to cramp up like last year. Can I get extra time or someone else to write for me during my exams?
Yes, providing you supply a letter of support from a medical or disability specialist with an application form to the Disability Resource Service. However, you may like to take other measures such as ensuring you take micropauses and regular breaks during your study and during the examination.
8. I want to further my education and I know I can do well and complete a degree but no one will want to employ me when they see I have a disability. What can I do once I've received my qualifications?
UC Careers and Employment located at Okeover on University Drive has a comprehensive resource library and qualified career counsellors that will be able to talk to you about your concerns.