School Accommodations 101: What You Can Actually Ask For
If you or your child is navigating school with a disability, whether diagnosed, self-identified, or still being explored, it's worth knowing that they have a legal right to reasonable adjustments at school.
A quick note on language. We'll be using the term "disability" throughout this post, simply because that's the term used in the legislation itself. As you'll see below, this term is defined much more broadly than many people expect. We'll also be using the word "school" throughout, but this is really umbrella term for all education settings, from primary and high school through to university, TAFE, and beyond.
In a Hurry? Here's the Gist
You (or your child) have a legal right to reasonable adjustments at school.
You don't need a formal diagnosis for these protections to apply, the legal definition of disability is broader than most people realise.
Adjustments can look like anything from extra time on assessments to sensory supports, assistive technology, or changes to the classroom.
You can raise this with the school at any time, not just at the start of the year or during a crisis.
If you're not sure where to start, an assessment can help pinpoint exactly what's needed and give you the documentation to support your request.
The Legal Basics
All schools in Australia have a legal obligation to meet the needs of students with disability. This is guided by the Disability Standards for Education 2005 (DSE) and the Disability Discrimination Act 1992. To make sure you or your child has the same learning opportunities as their peers, education providers are legally required to make reasonable adjustments.
Who Does This Actually Include?
As a society, we tend to hold a pretty narrow idea of what "disability" means, and that narrow view means a lot of students (and families) don't realise they're entitled to reasonable accomodations!
The Australian Government's Department of Education defines disability very broadly. It covers:
Partial or total loss of bodily or mental function
Partial or total loss of a body part
Presence of organisms that cause or can cause disease or illness
Disorders of learning
Disorders of behaviour, emotions, judgement, or thought processes
This definition covers a past, current, future, or assumed disability. You don't need a formal diagnosis to be protected under the DSE, and how you personally understand or relate to the idea of "disability" doesn't need to match this legal definition either. You don't have to identify as a person with disability for the DSE to apply to you or your child.
What Is a Reasonable Adjustment?
Schools and education settings can make these adjustments in the classroom, in the playground, on excursions, and to the physical premises itself.
Some real examples of what this can look like:
Adjusting activities or class work to suit learning needs.
Using adaptive or assistive technology, sign language, braille, or visual supports to help access information.
Tools like voice recognition software, screen readers, or adjustable desks
Alternative assessment formats
Extra time to complete class work, projects, or assessments
For neurodivergent students specifically, adjustments can also include things like noise-cancelling headphones or earplugs for sound sensitivities, dimmed lighting or sunglasses for visual sensitivities, alternative materials for tactile sensitivities, visual schedules to reduce anxiety around transitions, access to a quiet space to regulate when overwhelmed, and extra time and support to build organisational and executive functioning skills.
Starting the Conversation With Your Child's School
You can raise the topic of adjustments with the school at any point, it doesn't need to wait for a crisis or a bad term. A member of the school will often meet with you to talk through what kind of support would genuinely help or be useful.
You might discuss things like how you or your child's disability affects their learning, what kind of adjustments could help, and how those changes might be implemented. You may also be asked to provide supporting information, such as medical reports or allied health assessments, and in some cases a professional assessment may be helpful to inform the right adjustments.
As your child grows and their needs change, it's worth revisiting these adjustments regularly rather than treating them as a one-time conversation.
Not Sure Where to Start?
Working out exactly what you or your child needs, and how to put it into words a school can act on, can be genuinely difficult and overwhelming to say the least! That's where our Educational Needs and Accommodations Assessment comes in.
We help pinpoint the real barriers you or your child is facing in the learning environment, and turn that understanding into a clear, actionable plan. With this assessment, you'll get:
Clarity on learning barriers and strengths – understanding exactly how ADHD, autism, or executive functioning differences are impacting you or your child's education
Official documentation – a professional psychological report outlining learning needs, giving you confidence when requesting accommodations
Knowledge of your rights – making sure you or your child's school, university, or TAFE is meeting its obligations under federal and state disability discrimination law
Practical strategies – personalised recommendations to support advocacy and engagement in education
Every student deserves an education that supports how they learn, not one that expects them to struggle through it. For more information, get in touch with us!
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