Decision support for examiners when adapting examinations for students with disabilities

The syllabus

The examiner makes decisions about adjustments to the examination: 

"If there are special reasons, or the need for adaptation for a student with a disability, the examiner may make a decision to depart from the curriculum's regulations regarding form of examination, number of examination opportunities, possibility of supplementation or exemption from mandatory educational elements, etc. Content and learning objectives and the level of expected skills, knowledge and abilities may not be changed, removed or lowered.” KI 's instructions for course plans

Application

To make it easier for students and examiners and to reduce the risk of medical certificates/equivalent being submitted in different places in the organization, students with disabilities apply for targeted educational support in a system called the National Administration and Information System for Coordinators (Nais). The coordinator for students with disabilities processes the application and makes decisions about the support related to the study situation, as well as makes a recommendation about adapting the examination. It is the course examiner who decides on the recommended support. 

Decision 

At/before the start of the course, the student must present his certificate with recommended adaptation (so-called Nais certificate) to the examiner and apply for the recommended adaptation.

The examiner can decide on adaptation even if the coordinator has not given any recommendation. The examiner then assesses which adaptations are needed to give the student the same conditions as other students on the course. 

If the examiner makes the assessment that it is not possible to follow a given recommendation, the examiner must make a well-reasoned written decision. A lack of resources (time, staff, competence) can justify a refusal, as can a lack of practical conditions, but hardly a lack of financial resources, as the Discrimination ombudsman is likely to look at the entire university's assets in a possible review. An application for adaptation that affects learning objectives must be rejected: "Content and learning objectives and the level of expected skills, knowledge and abilities must not be changed, removed or lowered." (See above.) The examiner's decision is not subject to appeal. 

Application and decision documents must be kept in a diary and archived according to the current document management plan . There is a decision template in Word that can be used, but a normal email exchange can also be kept in a diary as a basis and decision.

Work-based training

As the work-based training must be planned extra far in advance, the student needs to apply for adaptations in extra good time. The program needs to contact the clinic to see which adaptations are possible. The program may need to have contact with several clinics to find an opportunity for adaptation. If the student applies too close to the start of the work-based training course, it may be difficult to make adjustments in time. Lack of time due to a late application can then be grounds for rejection. See above. 

Process description

• The student contacts the course and presents his/her notice with a recommendation about adapting the examination.
• The examiner decides whether the adaptation is possible and makes a written decision, for example by email.
• In case of rejection: The examiner gives reasons why the recommendation cannot be followed. The decision must be kept in a diary in accordance with KI's rules on keeping a diary. 
• When granted: State which adaptation(s) of the examination are granted.  
• The decision must be communicated to the student in writing within a reasonable time, for example by email.