SAC support for some learner needs

This table lists potential learner needs and matches them with possible SAC support.

Learner need or barrier: Learning (L), Medical, (M) Physical (P), Sensory Impaired (S)	Functional impact or impairment in formal assessments	Possible Special Assessment Conditions (SAC)	Evidence of need from the school
Attention-Deficit /Hyperactivity Disorder, Disruptive, Impulse-Control and Conduct Disorders (M)	Severe concentration and impulse control/difficulty Permission required to take medication	Separate Accommodation Rest Breaks	Teacher comments or medical history
Autism Spectrum Disorder (M)	Severe concentration difficulties Disruptive behaviour Need for stability and routine	Separate Accommodation Computer Rest Breaks	Teacher comments or a psychological or medical history
Back/leg injury, chronic pain (P)	Pain and discomfort due to injury Problems with prolonged sitting Permission required to take medication and to allow standing and stretching in room	Rest Breaks Separate Accommodation	Teacher comments or medical history ACC file notes
Deafness/hard of hearing (S)	Inability to hear instructions Language delay Written instructions required Placement near the teacher	Extra Time or Rest Breaks Computer or Writer Supervisor who is capable of signing Signing Reader	Teacher comments or medical history
Developmental Coordination Disorder (Dyspraxia) (P)	Writing difficulties associated with DCD	Extra Time Computer or Writer	Teacher comments or a report from an occupational therapist
Diabetes (M)	Need to check blood sugar levels frequently Permission required to take food or drink into the examination Permission to leave examination room under supervision to take medication	Rest Breaks Separate Accommodation (if needed)	Teacher comments or medical history
Epilepsy (M)	May suffer from epileptic seizure during assessment Permission required to take medication	Separate Accommodation Rest Breaks	Teacher comments or medical history
Hand/wrist/arm/shoulder injury (chronic pain) (P)	Difficulty writing due to pain or discomfort in hand or arm, excessive fatigue in hand Permission required to take medication	Rest Breaks Computer or Writer	Teacher comments or medical history ACC file notes
Head or Brain injury (P)	Mental processing difficulty or slowness due to brain injury Permission required to take medication	Rest Breaks Separate Accommodation	Teacher comments or medical history ACC file notes Psychological assessment
Illegible handwriting (P)	Handwriting illegible to a marker	Computer or Writer	Sample of writing
Mental Health concerns, for example, anxiety, depression and PTSD (M)	Anxiety in formal assessment Permission required to take medication Need for stability and routine	Rest Breaks Separate Accommodation	Teacher comments or medical history
Pregnancy, early infant care (P)	Discomfort with prolonged sitting Padded seating required Need to move about Need to breastfeed	Rest Breaks Separate Accommodation	Teacher comments or medical history or midwife report
Significant physical or muscular or neurological disability, for example, paraplegia, muscular dystrophy or cerebral palsy (P)	Requires personal care and assistance	Assistive technology used as normal practice Rest Breaks Separate Accommodation Extra time Computer or Writer Reader	Teacher comments or medical history
Specific Learning Disorder (L)	Inaccurate or slow and effortful reading Poor written expression that lacks clarity Difficulties remembering number facts Inaccurate mathematical reasoning	Extra time Reader Computer or Writer	Teacher comments or school history Psychometric assessment
Tourette’s Syndrome (M)	Twitch, verbal tic and outbursts	Separate Accommodation Computer or Writer	Teacher comments or medical history or specialist report
Vision impairment (S)	Blind or visual impairment	Assistive technology used as normal practice Coloured overlay or tinted lenses (no SAC submission needed) Brailled Paper Enlarged Paper Special Paper Extra Time or Rest Breaks Reader Computer or Writer	Teacher comments or medical history or specialist report BLENNZ report

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Note: The use of a Writer, Computer or Reader automatically entitles a student to separate accommodation.

Contact the SAC team

If you have a question or feedback, contact the SAC team at sac@nzqa.govt.nz

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