Meetings with the Disability Services Team will mainly be provided remotely. 

You can either email your Disability Officer directly as usual, or alternatively email: disability.office@qub.ac.uk  

You can browse our website that has lots of helpful advice and guidance. https://www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/sgc/disability/

Reasonable adjustments that are included in your Individual Student Support Agreemenet (ISSA) will apply to assessments in August. However please ensure that you have read both questions (below) about online assessments.

If you wish to discuss any part of your support that relates to the August exam period, please contact Disability Services. Please ensure that you are checking your email and Canvas notifications during the summer if you do have assessments in August.

You can contact the service by email: disability.office@qub.ac.uk 

Yes, PHA guidelines permitting, you will be able to access your support in a flexible manner either on a face-to-face basis, remotely via video-conferencing methods or by a combination of the aforementioned to allow you to engage with your one-to-one support in a way that is best suited to you, your disabilities / conditions and your individual requirements.

If you have any specific queries relating to one-to-one support, please contact the Register of Support Providers at Queen’s by emailing: nmhregister@qub.ac.uk 

Students with a disability or long term condition need to register with the service to receive support for exams.  Students should complete our online form and attach relevant medical evidence (see Guidelines for medical evidence ) in order to register.  Disability Services staff will then contact you via email to arrange a time and date for an appointment.  This assessment could be carried out via telephone or online via Microsoft Teams. 

Please note that there is a cut-off date by which you must register with Disability Services in order for exam support to be guaranteed.  Cut-off dates will be advertised to all students during semester 2

A wide range of assessments will be administered in 2020-21. Online assessments will continue to replace physical examinations in most instances, until further notice.

However, a small number of in-person on campus examinations will be necessary to maintain professional recognition awards.

It is our aim, as far as possible, to build accessibility into our online assessments so that students registered with Disability Services do not need to request a further adjustment.  However, if you receive details of an online assessment and think that you may require a reasonable adjustment to ensure the assessment is accessible to you, please contact your Disability Officer to discuss this.

Please note: when appropriate your agreed reasonable adjustments and academic supports (as detailed in your Individual Student Support Agreement – ISSA) will continue to be applied, where possible.

Please see further information below.

Standard Timed assessments

If a timed class test or exam is being replaced with an online test or exam, the recommendations detailed within your Individual Student Support Agreement should continue to be applied.

E.g. If a 2 hour exam is being replaced with 2 hour online exam and you usually receive extra time to complete standard timed exams on campus, you should expect to receive additional time to complete the /exam online as follows: 

• 2hr exam + additional time recommended on ISSA + time for technological needs/upload (TBC)

The same applies if you are entitled to rest breaks:

• 2hr exam + rest break time recommended on ISSA + time for technological needs/upload.

For those requiring extra time and rest breaks:

• 2 hour exam + additional time recommended on ISSA + rest break time* recommended on ISSA + time for technological needs/upload.

*rest break allowances should be added when the extra time has been calculated and the tech allowance added at the end.

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

Some class tests are in the format of Multiple-Choice Questions, these are timed assessments and require you to read and chose the appropriate answer. Please read all guidance and instructions carefully. Some of these tests will already have extra time built into the format of the assessment. Please check the guidance from your lecturer on Canvas.

Open-book exams

A timed online open-book exam is an assessment that is set under timed conditions and allows you to access your notes and resources. An open-book exam may be offered as an alternative to a normal written exam as a result of the requirement to offer more digital teaching and assessment opportunities. The duration of open-book exams will vary depending on the course of study and learning outcomes being assessed, but be assured that the questions posed will be based on agreed exam questions for the respective module of study.

There will be no additional time allowance or rest breaks allocated to online open-book assessments. This is because the duration of the assessment is intended to be fully inclusive for students with disabilities and is relative to the time that would be permitted under standard conditions.

For example, if a 24 hour open-book exam is set to replace a standard 2 or 3 hour standard exam, students who normally require reasonable adjustments such as; additional time to complete the exam or rest breaks to manage their disability, will automatically be accommodated with the extended time on offer.

Please note the following guidance points:

• Students are not expected to spend the full 24 hours on completing the exam, but a comparable amount of time they would normally spend on completing the exam if they were on campus.
• Additional time will only be added to open-book exams when the timeframe given to complete the exam does not meet the recommended additional time allowance for your individual needs.

For example, a 7hr open-book assessment for an exam that would usually be allocated as a 4hr exam and student is entitled to 100% additional time.

Tips for preparing for an Open book exam

• An open-book exam will require you not only to rely on information you have memorised but on your understanding of the information you have been taught.
• It is important to manage your time well and allow time for reading, planning and reviewing your work.
• You will need to think about the resources you will need e.g. books, lectures notes, journals. Be realistic about how much you can read during the time you have.
• Plan your assignment well and ensure you are answering the question/ title that has been asked. Take some short breaks and pause occasionally to review your work.

Please note that this answer is a continuation from the question above. Please ensure you have reviewed the information above to fully inform your understanding of the content. 

Presentations

If you are required to complete a presentation online and feel that you need support in doing so as a direct result of your disability, please contact your Disability Officer to discuss possible reasonable adjustments.

You may also find it useful to refer to resources provided by the Learning Development Service: https://www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/sgc/learning/LearningResources/PresentationandCommunicationSkills/PresentationSkills/

More often students are being asked to deliver material for assessment in various formats, including presentations. Please consider the format of the presentation and who will be watching. Is it assessed, what are the guidelines and how can I use my strengths to complete the assessment?

Asynchronous Presentations

During asynchronous presentations, a presentation file is completed/recorded and viewed later by the audience. The advantage of asynchronous presentations is that they allow everyone to access the presentation without a time constraint. A side benefit is that, because presenters may attempt a recording as many times as they want, students with a fear of speaking in public may find this presentation style easier. However, one key disadvantage is that questions regarding the presentation cannot be discussed during the presentation itself and must instead be addressed by email, discussion forum posts, and so on.

Synchronous Presentations

Synchronous presentations occur when the presenter and audience interact in real-time. In a synchronous presentation, students, teachers, and presenters can talk and see each other. This approach a beneficial method because it offers students the opportunity to ask questions and receive an immediate response. Thus, it is as close to an in-person presentation as possible. [Reference: Purdue University]

Students who have been awarded DSA may have access to Presentpal, Mindview or Sonocent software all of which can help with the preparation and delivery of presentations 

• https://presentpal.co.uk/
• https://www.matchware.com/mind-mapping-software
• https://sonocent.com/resources-pdfs/Study_Strategy_presentation_practice.pdf

Practical exams

Individual reasonable adjustments for practical exams will be discussed with students at their initial assessment with Disability Services where applicable. The learning outcomes of the assessment will need to be taken into consideration as some professional courses will not be able to make significant adjustments to the format or delivery of practical assessments.

For further information about the administration of examinations including the publication of timetables and results, please visit Student Registry webpages: https://www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/sgc/srecords/Examinations/

There is a range of Assistive Technology and Software (ATS) available to support you.

Many students will already be very familiar with the range of assistive technology and software (ATS) they can use to complete assessments from home.  However, those who normally receive one-to-one support may have some reservations / concerns. Please see below for a summary of the main ATS you may use in lieu of one-to-one support.

Please note: If you have received your ATS but have not yet availed of the accompanying training, you are strongly encouraged to contact the approved trainer as soon as possible to make arrangements for remote training.  If you are unsure who the recommended trainer is, this will be detailed in your DSA2 letter.  Alternatively contact the Needs Assessment Centre at nac@qub.ac.uk for clarification.

Alternative Supports

Scribe support –Students may make use of voice dictation software that allows you to verbally dictate your answers to be converted to typed text. This software may be accessed as follows:

1. Dragon Professional Individual V15– students in receipt of DSA may already be using this software for written composition. If you are not in receipt of DSA, please contact your Disability Officer for further guidance.
2. Microsoft Office 365– Microsoft Office 365 comes with inbuilt voice dictation feature – see https://dictate.ms/

Reader support – Students may use text to speech software. This will read aloud the text on your computer screen. This may be accessed as follows:

1. Assistive software such as TextHelp Read and Write Gold or Claroread– students in receipt of DSA may already be using this software for text to speech. If you are not in receipt of DSA, please contact your Disability Officer for further guidance.
2. Microsoft Office 365– Microsoft Office 365 has an inbuilt text to speech feature. Follow the link for further information relating to the accessibility functions available in Office 365: https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/Accessibility/office.

Prompter support – If you normally receive Prompter support and have a timed exam through Canvas, you can arrange with your Prompter to ‘phone through with prompts as you work through the exam. Alternatively, you could set regular reminders or alarms on your phone, which will alert you throughout your exam.

Office 365

All students have access to Microsoft Office 365 and it may be downloaded on to up to 5 devices:

http://www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/InformationServices/Services/Office365Queens/

As highlighted, Office 365 comes with inbuilt accessibility such as voice dictation and text-to-speech.  There are plenty of YouTube demonstration videos available to illustrate how to get started e.g. https://dictate.ms/

Students registered with Disability Services have an Individual Student Support Agreement (ISSA), which includes details on your recommended support for exams.  Your ISSA has been shared with your School and therefore, all relevant staff are aware of the exam support recommendations that you have in place and these will be taken into consideration when setting your assessment type and duration. Details of your assessments will be shared with you directly; therefore it is advised that you check your QUB email and Canvas regularly.

Students will be given green room status on their timetable on Queen's Online (QOL) as normal. If the assessment is online their School will be sent details and the School will get in touch with the students about the arrangements.  For those students who have scheduled on-campus exams, the Exams Office will be in touch via email to give further details of venue and arrangements as normal.

For further information about the administration of examinations including the publication of timetables and results, please visit Student Registry webpages: https://www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/sgc/srecords/Examinations/ 

Appointments for registration with Disability Services will only be offered to students who have completed the pre-registration questionnaire and submitted relevant medical evidence.  If you haven’t already done so, please complete the DS questionnaire.    

The University is being guided by Government guidance and Public Health advice with regards social distancing and therefore access in-person to services and support will be continually updated in-line with this advice and guidance.  Subsequently, appointments for assessment may be facilitated remotely to comply with social distancing.   From September in line with the University’s Campus Intentions and the NI Executive’s guidance, we may be able to provide face-to-face or on-campus support where required. A wide range of safety measures are in place to protect students on campus including on-campus testing centres, social distancing measures, hand washing facilities, one-way systems and mandatory wearing of face coverings indoors. The University will update their online information regularly. Please do keep checking the University FAQ pages for more information and updates.

Remote assessments will usually be delivered via Microsoft Teams and full guidance on how to access the meeting will be provided in your appointment notification.  The Pre-Registration questionnaire provides the opportunity for you to inform us of any specialist software or support you may require for this.   Alternative mediums can be considered if deemed necessary. 

Please be assured Disability Services are offering a full range of services remotely and our team of Disability Officer have extensive experience in facilitating online assessments.    

Disability Services are committed to supporting all students registered with the service to achieve their full academic potential.  

We intend to deliver as much face-to-face teaching as possible by September 2021. The University is being guided by Government guidance and Public Health advice with regards social distancing and therefore access in-person to services and support will be continually updated in-line with this advice and guidance.  The balance of face-to-face, interactive online and pre-recorded teaching that each student receives, within any limitations imposed by Covid restrictions, is based on the learning outcomes required from each module as determined by the appropriate School. A wide range of safety measures are in place to protect students on campus including on-campus testing centres, social distancing measures, hand washing facilities, one-way systems and mandatory wearing of face coverings indoors. The University will update their online information regularly. Please do keep checking the University FAQ pages for more information and updates.

Students Registered with Disability Services  

Students already registered with the university Disability Services have the option to have their reasonable adjustments reassessed at any point during their studies.     

If you are continuing on the same course, your current ISSA will automatically be rolled over to the new academic year unless you anticipate or encounter a specific difficulty with accessing your course as a result of your disability.  If this is the case, please contact Disability Services who will arrange a reassessment appointment and amend your current ISSA if necessary or appropriate.

It is important to note that responsibility for implementation of reasonable adjustments lies with the School, as they must consider all recommendations against relevant academic and professional standards for individual courses of study.  Disability Services work closely with staff in Schools to address any issues or concerns.  

If you are graduating but plan to commence a new course of study in 2020/21, please contact Disability Services as your supports will need to be reviewed to ensure they are suitable for your new course and a new ISSA will need to be issued. 

Contact your Disability Officer directly to discuss any concerns or alternatively email: disability.office@qub.ac.uk for an appointment

If you are commencing a new course or changing course, it is important that you let Disability Services know. This is to ensure we can assess suitable supports for your new course or level of study. Support will not continue from undergrad to postgrad studies without a reassessment appointment. Please contact Disability Services to find out how to book a reassessment appointment disability.office@qub.ac.uk