Students who are Blind or have low vision

Types of support for students who are Blind or have low vision

You can access:

• Advice on personalising technology, software and hardware to meet your needs
• One-on-one training on available technology
• Access to study materials in alternative formats
• Support to discuss your individual needs with lecturers and faculties
• Alternative arrangements for assessments and exams – like extra time, readers or the use of technology
• Strategies for accessing lecture content and notes, like Notes Online

Our assistive technology coordinator is here to help you access the study materials you need through our resource library, which has a wide range of software and hardware tools. They also offer training to use the technology and work with you to communicate your accessibility needs to your faculty, so you're not doing that alone.

Need print materials in alternative formats? Reach out to your lecturers early so your course content can be transcribed in time for you to use it.

Accessibility on campus

AUT is committed to creating spaces that work for everyone. Here’s what’s already in place:

• The learning management system includes built-in accessibility features
• All buildings have lifts or ramps to lecture theatres, classrooms, libraries and accessible toilets nearby
• Many doors open automatically or have push-button access
• Some lifts have raised numerals or braille on buttons, and others include voice announcements
• The Assistive Technology Lab provides an enabled technology space on Level 4 of the City Campus library with secure access (swipe cards are provided by Disability Support Services)

Got questions about accessibility? Reach out to Disability Support Services.

Disability assist dogs

Certified disability assist dogs are welcome on campus. They'll need to wear a jacket showing they're certified by one of these organisations:

• Assistance Dogs New Zealand
• Blind and Low Vision NZ (Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind Incorporated)
• Hearing Dogs for Deaf People New Zealand
• K9 Medical Detection New Zealand
• K9 Search Medical Detection
• Mobility Assistance Dogs Trust
• New Zealand Epilepsy Assist Dogs Trust
• Perfect Partners Assistance Dogs Trust