Case Study | Implementing Learning Access Plan - Neurodivergent student

Implementing Learning Access Plan - Neurodivergent student Emma*

Emma* is a neurodivergent student who had an agreed Learning Access Plan (LAP) in place with her higher education provider. Before starting her new course, she contacted course staff to let them know about her LAP.

During the course, she requested an additional extension for an assignment and provided a medical certificate to support her application.

Emma became distressed when rather than considering her request the Professor recommended alternative options that discriminated against her as a neurodiverse person including that she withdraws from the course. Emma had also requested the Professor enable closed captions for course videos. The Professor told Emma that the platform did not provide this function.

Suspecting this was not the case Emma raised the request through IT and student services. Closed captions was available in the platform and was enabled by IT.

Emma submitted a formal complaint to her provider but was dissatisfied with the outcome.

She then contacted the NSO and sought an acknowledgement of her experience, an apology for mistreatment and the distress the experience had caused, neurodivergence training for staff and students, and for future student support to be delivered in a neuro-affirming manner.

Emma’s provider apologised to her after the NSO raised Emma’s complaint. Her provider also advised that it:

• had recently updated the Student Wellbeing Toolkit for Staff to include new content on neurodiversity,
• conducted a systemic review of closed captioning within courses, and
• implemented a new policy for the extension request system to commence in Semester 2 of 2025.

The provider also agreed that it would enhance staff awareness and training.

Emma accepted the provider’s apology and response to her complaint and was happy to hear that there would be a new extension request policy and neurodivergence training with staff.