Introduction to reasonable accommodations guidelines
‘Disabled people’ and ‘people with disabilities’ have been used interchangeably throughout this document. This recognises that some people prefer identity-first language, while others prefer person-first language.
Reasonable accommodations are adjustments made to the University environment that:
- Support disabled people to participate on an equal basis with others; and
- Can be reasonably made available in the circumstances.
This may include changes that enable or support people with disabilities to:
- Undertake their work and/or study
- Be considered for appointment, promotion, transfer, training, or other opportunities
- Enjoy equitable terms and conditions with people in comparable circumstances
- Use University facilities or participate in University programmes.
Many people will need reasonable accommodations at some point in their lives due to temporary or permanent disabilities, illness, or age-related impairments.
Implementing reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities often also benefits other groups of people and, in many cases, everyone.
These guidelines complement:
- Te Ara Tautika, The Equity Policy – and the University’s commitment to being an environment where members of its community can thrive
- The University’s Reasonable Accommodations for Disability Policy and Reasonable Accommodations for Disability Procedures.
The guidelines provide information on key queries you may have, and case study examples of when accommodations might be provided.