Common examples of accommodations
On this page:
- Physical adjustments, such as:
- Providing assistive technology such as:
- Modifying the way a job is done, for example by:
- Making adjustments to how we teach, such as:
- Accommodating for environmental and food sensitivities by:
- Supports for recruitment, for instance:
- Having low stimulation and sensory spaces – for example at events or conferences – to:
- Supports for travel, such as:
- Special conditions for tests and exams, and flexible working
Physical adjustments, such as:
- Ensuring access to a building or equipment
- Reorganising workspaces to improve accessibility, or respond to sensitivities such as to noise, light or smell
- Ensuring good ventilation
- Providing a quiet space
- Adjusting lighting or temperature
- Removing allergenic products or preventing contamination of food preparation areas
- Providing a safe, private space for storing and administering medication
- Providing relevant equipment and furniture for instance, an ergonomic chair or height adjustable desk.
Providing assistive technology such as:
- Magnification equipment
- Microphones at meetings
- Navigation aids
- Noise cancelling headphones
- Screen reader technology
Modifying the way a job is done, for example by:
- Changing tasks
- Allocating or swapping non-essential aspects of the job to another employee
- Allowing flexible working arrangements - including more frequent breaks, working from home, shorter workdays, working in a different area, or time to attend medical appointments1
- Giving instructions in writing as well as verbally
- Providing support through a mentor, on-the-job coach, or specialist workplace assessor
- Using a sign language or remote video interpreter for interviews.
Making adjustments to how we teach, such as:
- Ensuring Canvas courses meet the University’s baseline standards
- Providing alternative formats, such as large print, audio books or video transcriptions
- Ensuring good colour contrast in teaching materials
- Allowing for alternative assessment tasks, assignment deadline flexibility, oral assessments, or presentations by video to the lecturer or in a small group only
- Providing for different communication preferences
- Changing the teaching environment, such as enabling front row seating, or allowing for personal assistance, the ability to move in class, and sensory considerations
- Allowing for flexible attendance
- Providing support through captioning, fieldwork assistants, lab assistance, note taking, NZ Sign-Language Interpreter
- Providing teaching content in advance, group work adjustments, in-class support
- Providing special conditions for tests and exams2.
Accommodating for environmental and food sensitivities by:
- Having air purifiers, heaters, fans, noise-cancelling headphones, lighting, alternative furnishings and furniture
- Avoiding contact with allergens where food is prepared and served
- Discussing catering for functions with attendees so disabling reactions can be avoided and food preferences are considered.
Supports for recruitment, for instance:
- Having an accessible physical location or online option
- Providing additional time to complete the interview and/or assessments
- Enabling whānau and/or support people to accompany candidates
- Providing candidates with interview questions before their interview
- Providing breaks as needed
- Having an interpreter or sign language interpreter
- Ensuring appropriate technology is available
- Providing materials in alternative formats such as large print.
Having low stimulation and sensory spaces – for example at events or conferences – to:
- Help reduce sensory overload from, for example, bright lights, loud sounds, strong smells
- Provide a predictable, calming environment
- Allow for emotional decompression and stress relief, helping manage symptoms like anxiety, panic, or emotional overwhelm.
Supports for travel, such as:
- Booking flights at times that support a disabled person’s needs – such as early check-in, or allowing for a delay in travel after a long conference
- Supporting – partially or fully - upgrades for long flights
- Enabling a support person to accompany the person with a disability.
What will be appropriate, and can be provided or changed, depends on the circumstances of individual cases.
1 Flexible work arrangements should be made under the Flexible Work Policy and Procedures.
2 Special conditions for tests and exams should be made under these policy and procedures.
Special conditions for tests and exams, and flexible working
Special conditions for tests and exams, and flexible working arrangement, are important reasonable accommodations. However, they have separate processes and are therefore covered by the University’s :