As a passionate advocate for dyslexia, I have always supported equitable education for everyone. As I reach my final months of formal Australian schooling, it appears that this equality does not apply in our final Year 12 exams. In fact, during one of the most stressful periods of a dyslexic student’s life, we also have the added burden of proving our need for extra reading time in exams, despite our reading challenges. 

Extra time is not an automatic provision for dyslexics in Year 12 Final Exams in Australia, which includes the HSC, AST, VCE, QCE, SACE, TCE, WACE and the NTCET. Many dyslexic students need access to this type of support, as timed exams create many barriers for students with dyslexia and other learning difficulties, particularly as these exams rely heavily on our ability to read and process written information. Extra time would help overcome the disadvantage caused by dyslexia, thus creating a more equitable exam environment. 

Dyslexia is recognised in Australia under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA) and under the Human Rights Commission and as such, denying fair access in the form of exam provisions is not only a barrier to educational equity but can be viewed as discriminatory.

Our final exams are already stressful enough without the added burden of having to go through the process of applying and appealing for exam provisions, even when there has already been a set precedence throughout our school journey. 

Extra exam time for all dyslexics should be mandatory.

I ask that our governing educational bodies remove the current criteria and restrictions and automatically allocate extra exam time for all dyslexics.

We are calling on the Australian Government, State Educational Departments, NESA, SCSA, VCAA, TASC, ACT BSSS, SACE, QCAA and NTBOS to introduce mandatory access to extra time for all dyslexic students sitting their Final Year 12 exams. 

Please sign to add your voice. 

Thank you so much for your time and consideration.

Georgia

Supported by: DVS (Dyslexia Victoria Support)

For more information:

Australian Government Department of Education Disability Standards Education (2005)

https://www.education.gov.au/disability-standards-education-2005/students/english/explaining

Final Report of the 2020 Review of the Disability Standards for Education 2005

https://www.education.gov.au/disability-standards-education-2005/resources/final-report-2020-review-disability-standards-education-2005

Summary Document - 2020 Review of the Disability Standards for Education 2005
https://www.education.gov.au/disability-standards-education-2005/resources/summary-document-2020-review-disability-standards-education-2005