Tertiary Initiatives for People with a Disability

Please note that the TIPD project will cease to operate from Friday 27th August,1999. This website will be maintained until 31st December, 1999. TIPD would like to thank those people and organisations that have supported the project since it began in 1991.

CONSIDER IT! - A Guide for Junior Secondary Students with a Disability

The following is the HTML version of the above 8 page document.

Contents

• Is university education for me?
• Why go to university?
• Access to university
• Plan in advance!
• Resources
• University contacts
• Further reading

Preface

This booklet is for people with a disability who are considering university study as an option in the future. It is most useful for those in Years 8, 9 and 10. For those students with a disability in Years 11 and 12 or seeking to enter university through TAFE, the other booklet in this series University Education: Plan For It! is recommended because it provides a detailed month-by-month planning guide.

This booklet was produced by the Tertiary Initiatives for People with Disabilities (TIPD) Project which is a cooperative project of Griffith University, The University of Queensland, Queensland University of Technology, Australian Catholic University (McAuley), James Cook University, Central Queensland University, Sunshine Coast University College and University of Southern Queensland. Some information was provided by Career Course & Guidance Information Services, Queensland Department of Education.

The TIPD Project is funded by the Department of Employment, Education and Training (DEET) and aims to enhance the access of academically qualified people with a disability to university study and appropriate graduate employment.
Permission is granted for additional copies of this booklet to be produced, provided the document is reproduced in its entirety.

For more information about TIPD please contact:

TIPD Office
QUT (Carseldine Campus)
Beams Road
Carseldine Q 4034
Tel: (07) 3864 4504 (incl TTY)
Fax: (07) 3864 4509
E-mail: TIPD@qut.edu.au

 

Is University Education for Me?

Gaining a qualification through study can be rewarding. It may be a path to:

• improving yourself
• expanding your potential
• a challenging career
• enhancing your employment prospects
• enhancing your career prospects
• increasing your earning potential
• a satisfying occupation
• an interesting and challenging lifestyle
• expanding your interests and making new friends.

To make an informed judgement about whether university education is for you take some time to consider the following questions:

• What are you really interested in?
• What are your best subjects at school?
• How do you see yourself in ten years time?

Many careers do not require university education. Nor is everyone suited to university study. However, some tertiary courses are essential for entry into particular careers.

Some secondary school students with a disability who had a taste of university life said:

"Uni courses are more accessible than I first thought."

"I'd like to teach music and I am confident I can do it."

"I know what career I want to follow now so I'll make sure I choose the correct subjects to get there."

"It is hard, but it can be done."

If you think you might be interested in going to university, read on...

Why go to university?

"I believe that higher education is of immense importance: obviously in your career, but also in personal satisfaction. Uni can be immensely rewarding academically and socially."

Chris, PhD student

"My main reason for doing a university degree is to gain access to employment and, in particular, to be qualified in a range of specialty areas within the profession of Social Work."

Judy, Social Work and Arts student now graduated and in professional employment

"Where would I be today if I wasn't at university doing my law degree? My answer to that is I'd be feeling frustrated after 20 years of what I consider virtually doing nothing."

Keith, Law student now graduated and in professional employment

"The benefits of higher education are in my opinion, easily recognisable. Your knowledge base is increased, your professional and social networking is increased, your career opportunities are increased, and your self-esteem and confidence are increased. Your belief that 'Hey, maybe I can make a difference to my life and the lives of others' is heightened."

Jeremy, Social Science student now graduated and in professional employment

"I think everyone should set themselves goals. Participation in university education, which increases both my employment and social prospects, is a major factor in my personal goals."

Robert, Business student

Access to university

"From a social justice perspective, people with disabilities are entitled to equal access to education, technology, information, social networks, recreation, transport, training in daily living skills, accommodation support, housing, and gainful employment."

Penny, Master of Education (Special Education) student

If you have the potential to do tertiary study, disability should not be a barrier. Universities provide a range of services and facilities to assist students with a disability in their study.

Universities may provide assistance in a number of ways:

• Facilities
  eg parking, accessible buildings and access maps
  
  
• Services
  eg note takers, signing interpreters and attendants, text in alternative format
  
  
• Equipment
  eg computers with peripheral devices or software packages such as voice synthesisers, braille embossers and scooters
  
  
• Assessment arrangements
  eg alternative assessment and variations to examination procedures

Information about specific services and facilities can be obtained from the individual universities. Each university has a disability officer or a specific contact person who can assist with arrangements as required. The contact details of the disability officers are listed at the back of this booklet.

Plan in advance!

"The key to my success as a student so far was early preparation."

Andrew, PhD Maths student

Start planning well before the time you intend to apply for university. Planning and research into the course best suited to you will take time. Consider this time as an investment in your future.

Early planning steps:

1. Decide on your career goals

Answer 'yes' or 'no' to the following questions.

• Do you know what careers you are interested in?
  
  
• Have you discussed these careers with
  a) people who work in the area?
  b) your school guidance officer?
  
  
• Have you had work experience in the area?
  
  
• Do these careers require university education?

2. Decide which university course suits you

• Do you know exactly which courses will get you into these careers?
  
  
• Have you thoroughly investigated these courses?
  
  
• Do you think you will enjoy doing these courses?
  
  
• Do you know what the secondary school pre-requisite subjects are to gain entry to these courses?

If you were not able to answer 'yes' to all of these questions, then read them again and take action so that the 'nos' change to 'yes' (The Queensland Job Guide provides information about careers and what you need to achieve them).

3. Check that you study pre-requisite subjects

Towards the end of Year 10, you have to choose Year 11 and 12 subjects that will lead to the university course/s of your choice. It is a good idea to keep your options open. Choose subjects that lead to a wide range of course choices in tertiary education.

If you are no longer at secondary school, you may need to undertake an adult senior course to obtain the required pre-requisites. If you are unsure, seek advice!

4. Experience a "taste" of university study

Consider participation in programs conducted by some universities to provide prospective students with a brief "taste" of life as a university student, such as:

• UNITASTE Vacation School, a three-day program for Year 10 and 11 students with a disability at Queensland University of Technology.
  
  
• Leo Howard Vacation School, a five-day program in January each year for Year 12 students at The University of Queensland.

Resources

Austudy

Austudy is a scheme which provides financial assistance to full-time students 16 years of age and over who study at secondary schools, TAFE colleges, universities and other approved courses. Two arrangements exist for some applicants with disabilities. These include lowered workload requirements for usual AUSTUDY payment if you cannot study full-time due to disability and an Education Supplement for people receiving the Disability Support Pension.

Eligibility conditions apply. Contact your closest AUSTUDY office - refer to the White Pages listing under: Employment, Education and Training, Deptartment of

Careers Information Program Sheet

A guide to careers markets and open days in Queensland and Northern New South Wales is published by the Tertiary Entrance Procedures Authority (TEPA) and the Queensland Department of Education. Copies are distributed to all secondary schools and are also available from school guidance officers, CES centres and Careers Reference Centres.

Careers Reference Centres

Careers Reference Centres are self-help resource centres which provide material on careers, course information and financial assistance available during study. Careers Reference Centres are units of the CES - refer to the White Pages under Commonwealth Employment Service.

Continuing Secondary Education and Tertiary Education for Mature-age students (handout)

This handout (Education Update No 5) provides information on the various options for adults to complete secondary school and/or qualify for admission to tertiary institutions. Produced by the Department of Education, Public and Media Relations Branch, 9th Floor Education House, 30 Mary St, Brisbane - Telephone (07) 3237 1363.

Commonwealth Rehabilitation Service (CRS)

The CRS conducts programs to assist people with disabilities to prepare for employment, to undertake training and to enhance independent living. One of the programs that may be offered is assistance to people with disabilities to prepare for and/or to undertake further education. If you are receiving this assistance from CRS, they can assist in liaison with the university so that a coordinated service is delivered.

Important - eligibility conditions apply. Contact your nearest CRS Regional Unit for further information. Refer to White Pages for the nearest CRS Unit.

Guidance Officers

Many excellent print rsources (pamphlets, booklets, brochures) to assist in choosing subjects and making career decisions are held by guidance officers in every secondary school.

For secondary students - contact your high school. For mature age students - contact your closest school support centre for an appointment with a secondary guidance officer or for advice on the closest available Guidance Office.

OZ Jobs and Careers (OZJAC) Computer Program

The OZJAC computer program is an easy to use data-base of jobs and tertiary courses. OZJAC is the new national courses and careers inform-ation system that replaces the state and territory versions of the Job and Course explorer (JAC) database. It will be available from the middle of 1996 at:

• your local guidance officer
• CES Office
• Careers Reference Centre

Job Guide

A book which lists resources relating to courses, careers and job-seeking produced by the Department of Employment, Education and Training. Specifically it lists careers with job description and qualifications required. Available from:

• your local guidance officer
• CES Office
• Careers Reference Centre

Queensland Tertiary Courses Booklet

Produced by Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC) and distributed each year. The booklet lists undergraduate courses in Queensland with application details. It is available to all year 12 students and can be accessed at a Career Reference Centre, or purchased at QTAC.

University open days/ careers evenings

Contact the institution for the details of dates and venues.

Guide for students with disabilities

Available from the disability officer at most universities.

University Contacts

Contact details for each university.

Further Reading

For more information, see the other booklet in this series University Education For People With Disabilities: Plan In Advance! which includes a month-by-month calendar of important steps to take to ensure a well-planned entry into tertiary education.

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This page last updated: 13 November, 1998