The Centre for Academic Development

Learning Disabilities Programme

The Learning Disabilities Programme at the Student Learning Centre provides learning assessment and academic support for University of Auckland students with specific learning disabilities. We work closely with Disabilities Services, Student Health and Counselling and all academic faculties within the University to ensure we meet the learning needs of students with learning disabilities. The service is based at the Student Learning Centre where we teach the process skills required for academic success. We strive to help students with learning disabilities successfully manage their disability within the academic setting.

Accessing our service

Any student currently enrolled at the University of Auckland can use our service. A student can access us in a number of ways.

1. If the student has a documented learning disability then he or she needs to meet with us to discuss his or her learning requirements and options for special test and/or exam conditions. The student must provide recent or current documentation (within the last 2 to 3 years), such as a copy of a psychoeducational assessment report verifying their learning disability.
   


2. If the student suspects he or she has a learning disability, then he or she can request a learning assessment.
   


3. If academic staff within the University suspect that a student has a learning disability, then they can refer the student to us.
   


4. If the student has an injury which may affect his or her ability to complete coursework, tests or exams then he or she can request assistance from us. For example, if the student has a broken thumb and is unable to write, then he or she will receive instruction in using a writer or scribe in exams.
   

How we help

Learning assessments
Our academically qualified tutors use comprehensive learning assessments to ascertain whether a student has a learning disability and determine areas for appropriate academic and learning support at a tertiary level. Learning assessments can also provide the basis for test and exam accommodations, and are usually valid for three years, afterwhich reassessment may be required.

Learning assessment covers three areas of functioning.

1. Intellectual ability in verbal and nonverbal areas.
   
2. Information processing ability (e.g., memory and attention).
   
3. Relevant academic skills (e.g., reading, spelling, written expression, mathematics).
   

Further assessment may be required if previous assessment findings are out-of-date or do not give enough information about a student's learning requirements at a tertiary level.

Our learning assessments are conducted in English. If a student does not have English as his or her first language, then our learning assessment may not be valid.

Note taking service
A learning assessment may indicate that students would benefit from the note taking service offered by Disabilities Services.

Special conditions
Special conditions are student-specific and are either temporary (granted for the current semester only) or permanent. Entitlements in tests and exams include extra time, a reader and/or writer, and separate facilities.

Academic support
The Learning Disabilities Service offers individual learning programmes for all students with a learning disability. Students can come from any faculty at any stage of their university career. International students can also access this service.

Assistance ranges from tuition in spelling, handwriting, editing and test/exam taking to ongoing support with time management and the academic writing process. We also offer instruction in text to speech and voice recognition software.

Students can access specialist subject tutors within the Student Learning Centre and participate in the Academic English Conversation Groups. We also recommend, on an individual basis, Student Learning Centre workshops.

Students who use our service are encouraged to manage their own learning programmes. Some may visit us weekly or fortnightly, while others may meet with us prior to the hand-in of assignments or when preparing for exams. The student usually meets with the same tutor for every appointment. This offers continuity and the oppportunity to build a trusting ongoing relationship.

Contact us

Glenis Wong-Toi (Co-ordinator), Jackie Ede (Tutor) and Paula Baty (Tutor)