Special Provision for Students with Vision Impairments

Special Provision may be available to students whose learning and assessment programs are afftected by illness, impairment or personal circumstances.
Students who are eligible for Special Provision are not exempt from meeting the requirements for Satisfactory Completion of the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE),
or from being assessed against the outcomes for a particular study.

The Guiding Principles of Special Provision are that the provision:

• Should provide equivalent, alternative arrangements for students
• Should not confer an advantage to a student over other students

  There are Three Types of Special Provision for the VCE:

• Special provision for school-based assessment requirements.
• Special Examination Arrangements for external examinations
• Derived Examination Score

  Special Provision for Examinations
  In order for students with vision impairments to be eligible for Special Examination Arrangements, there should be a documented history of Special Provision approved by the schools for the student. Special Provision for units 3 and 4 must be applied for on the form, "Special Examination Arrangements Application 2008" distributed to schools by the Victorian Curriculum Assessment Authority (VCAA) each year. Support statements and recommendations from the Visiting Teacher and/or staff from the Statewide Vision Resource Centre are required.
  Students with a vision impairment may be eligible for the following:

• extra reading time
• extra writing time
• reader
• scribe
• rest breaks
• alternative examination papers-braille, large print, audio tape or e-text copy
• written descriptions of pictures or diagrams
• adaptive technology and equipment such as a braille notetaker or a computer
• separate room with individual supervision
• exemption from the GAT

Applications
Applications for Special Examination Arrangements for all 2008 VCE examinations close on Friday 7 March 2008.
All Special Examination Arrangements for a student must be approved by the VCAA upon application from the school.
The VCAA does not accept applications made directly by students, parents/guardians or independent professionals.

Special Provision Links:

• Special Provision -general information about special provision from the VCAA web site.
• VCAA lists a number of materials and arrangements that students with vision impairments can utilise, with permission, during examinations http://www.svrc.edu.au/VIAuthorisedMaterials2003.doc

VCE Links:

• Exam Timetable for 2008
• The GAT (General Achievement Test)
  What is it? How does it relate to coursework?
• Past Examinations

Tertiary Links 

• Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre: http://www.vtac.edu.au/
• SEAS - Special Entry Access Schemes: http://www.vtac.edu.au/forms/equityform.html
• Making a Smooth Transition to Tertiary Studies  http://www.svrc.edu.au/transition.htm
• Important Information For Students Starting University http://www.svrc.edu.au/startinguni.html
• Melbourne University Transition Program: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/transition/
• For information about Special Entry Schemes at Melbourne University contact Disability Liason Unit - Melbourne University:http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/index.ht
• Monash University-Information for Lecturers re: Blind and Vision Impaired Students http://adm.monash.edu/sss/equity-diversity/disability-liaison/teaching-staff/vi-students.html

For further information:
Lyn Robinson
Statewide Vision Resource Centre. Phone: 03 98410242
Christine Bryt
Examinations Unit, Victorian Curriculum Assessment Authority. Phone: 03 92252220
Andy Murphy
Examinations Unit, Victorian Curriculum Assessment Authority. Phone: 03 92252218

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Web page editor Lyn Robinson. Last updated March 2008.

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