What we do

Find out about our team, who we support and where you can find us.

Take a video tour of Student Disability Services and hear students describe how support from advisers has transformed their University experience.

Who do we support?

We support students with a wide range of visible and invisible impairments, including:

  • Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder
  • Blind
  • Deaf
  • Head injury
  • Hearing impaired
  • Medical conditions
  • Mental health conditions (e.g., psychotic disorders, depression and anxiety disorders)
  • Physical/mobility impairment
  • Specific learning disabilities (e.g., dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia)
  • Speech impairment
  • Vision impairment 
  • Unspecified.

Some limited support is available for students who have temporary impairments and injuries. This support varies depending on the impact of the injury.

Support services for international students may vary from those at their home university. Read more

How do we support students with disabilities?

If you are a student living with an impairment, if you suspect that you have an impairment, or if you are a staff member wanting support and information in working with people with disabilities, we can help.

We offer a range of services to make studying at the University an accessible and positive experience. We tailor our support to suit each individual student as we acknowledge every disability affects people differently.  

Our team

Student Disability Services have a variety of staff on hand to help you achieve your academic potential.

Mark Thomson
Manager
Phone: 09 3737599 ext 88808
Email: mr.thomson@auckland.ac.nz

Disability Case Managers

They are the first point of contact if you need to access Student Disability Services.

Lynda Reilly
Deputy Manager and Disability Case Manager
Phone: +64 9 373 7599 ext 87330
Email: l.reilly@auckland.ac.nz

Claire Dayel-Baker
Disability Case Manager
Phone:+64 9 373 7599 ext 88751
Email: claire.dayel-baker@auckland.ac.nz

Nisha Sharma 
Disability Case Manager
Phone:+64 9 373 7599 ext 82065
Email: nisha.sharma@auckland.ac.nz  

Student support  

Sophia Pattiwael
Disability Support Coordinator
Phone: +64 9 373 7599 ext 82936
Email: s.pattiwael@auckland.ac.nz

Workbridge employment consultant

Careers advice is available for current students and graduates with disabilities who wish to discuss career planning and how it links with their studies.  

Learn more about our Careers and Employment support.