1.                 1.

Dianne is blind and uses a ‘screen reader’ on her computer reads text to her.  Materials for her course are published on the web, and a heavy reliance on graphics means that she is missing a great deal of information.

Dianne could make a complaint to the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) alleging unfair treatment, as she cannot read the material easily available to other students.

True or False

TRUE.  Dianne could make a complaint to HREOC, and it is likely that they would consider that the training provider was in breach of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).  HREOC would probably propose conciliation to resolve the issue.  Conciliation might result on a commitment from the training provider to ensure that all graphics are presented with descriptive text in future, and a negotiation about timing of submission of assessment items.

2. 

2.                 Brian has dyslexia, and the course he is doing involves reading through a series of papers, and writing a paper on the theories presented.  Brian has requested the papers be provided in audio format.  The training provider has said that they cannot provide this, as they don’t have the staff to sit and read onto tape, and Brian will need to read in the workplace anyway.

Brian explained that he was planning to test out strategies that will help in the workplace, while he is doing his training.  The trainer agreed to ask the administrative trainee to try to read the papers.

Three weeks later Brian was given recordings of two of the five papers.  His request to have the assessment date changed was denied.

Brian’s legal right to the same information as his fellow students was denied in several ways.

True or False

TRUE.  The delay in providing materials in audio format, the possible low quality of a recording by an untrained person, the limited amount of material converted, and the refusal to change the date for submission of assessment all contributed to the unfair treatment of this student.

3.

3.                HREOC conducts random audits of providers of a range of services, to ensure that there are no systematic breaches of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).

True or False

FALSE.  HREOC responds to complaints of unlawful treatment, and examines each complaint against the provision of the DDA.  There is no audit process.  There is, however, capacity for service providers to develop an Action Plan, describing how they will work to eliminate unfair treatment based on disability.  If a complaint is made against an organisation, the Action Plan can be used as a part of the defence.  Many vocational training and higher education providers have developed Action Plans, and lodged these with HREOC.

4. 

4.                  HREOC responds to complaints of discrimination only, and does not provide any advice or guidance on eliminating unfair treatment.

True or false

FALSE.  HREOC has developed advisory notes on issues including access to buildings, and accessible web design.  These notes, and a great deal of other information, is available from HREOC’s web site – http://www.hreoc.gov.au

5.

5.                The Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF) requires Registered Training Organisations (RTO’s) to meet the needs of students with a disability, including providing learning materials in alternative formats.

True or False

The relevant AQTF Standards are:

• Standard 6.1 which requires RTO’s to show evidence of incorporation of access and equity principles into its processes and delivery.

• Standard 9.1 and 9.3 which requires that the RTO ensures that learning and assessment strategies meet individual client needs.