According to the Austrian Universities Act 2002 (UG 2002), students with long-term disabilities have the right to an alternative mode of assessment. If an impairment prevents students to take exams in the scheduled mode an adaptation can be made. Provided that content and requirements of the exam stay the same.
This possibility includes all students who can provide a specialist's certificate (a certificate from the family doctor does not count) to confirm a physical or mental impairment. The impairment can be permanent or temporary (e.g. plaster hand) but it has to last at least 2 months including holidays.
The change of mode is always related to the form of impairment and depends on the requirements of the curriculum.
Possible adaptations:
For written exams
Extended time (e.g. for students with dyslexia)
Oral exam or use of aids (e.g. for blind students)
Taking the exam in a seperate room (e.g. for students with concentration problems)
For oral exams
An assistant comes along (no interference in the exam allowed)
Translation by a sign language interpreter
Taking a written exam (e.g. for students with hearing impairment or deaf students)
At field trips / excursions
If active participation is not possible students can provide a substitute work (agreement with the head of the field trip is obligatory)
