Disability Services
Role of Disability Liaison Officers
The Disability Liaison Officers (DLO) are the staff who facilitate reasonable study adjustments for the student with a disability.
They are generally the staff who make initial contact with the student. They can offer information, advice and support to the student in all aspects of their contact with the University; they do not, however, themselves, provide all the support services that a student may need.
The DLO will make recommendations to relevant academic and administrative staff regarding the support services and reasonable adjustments needed to reduce the barriers to study under CSU policy and relevant legislation. Some examples would be to liaise with the Learning Materials Centre to arrange alternative format study materials; teaching staff for adjustments to assessment requirements or lecture formats etc; Exams Office for variation to exam conditions; and Library staff for assistance with information retrieval.
The initial adjustments that are negotiated with the student and other staff are not prescriptive for the student’s entire time at the University. The student’s condition may not be stable; technology developments may make other adjustments more appropriate; or course requirements and delivery may change.
Any changes to the adjustments made to support a student must involve consultation with the student, and with others concerned. The student may initiate and arrange adjustments with other staff without input from the DLO, and students are encouraged to act as independently as possible.
The student’s rights to privacy and to an environment free from discrimination must at all times be respected.
In addition to the above, DLOs have as part of their role:
- To deliver or coordinate delivery of a limited range of required support services e.g. the induction/ orientation/ training/ co-ordination or management of disability support workers such as note-takers and interpreters;
- To facilitate delivery of other support services by teaching departments and generic students services;
- To engage in community education and outreach to prospective students;
- To assist in the further development and monitoring of University policies and programs;
- To play a mediatory role between the rights of individual students and the interests of the University.