The Disability Services team at Flinders University offers support, advice and resources to students with various health conditions (or who are caring for someone) who want to enhance their study experience. Meet the team in this post and see whether the service might be for you.
The modern student is often juggling many things in addition to their studies – work, family responsibilities, and sometimes health conditions.
If you find that some aspect of your health is impeding your ability to progress effectively in your studies, it might be worth having a chat with a Disability Advisor.
Disability Advisors negotiate adjustments for students with disabilities to improve access to their study and the university. These can take the form of Access Plans that describe the reasonable adjustments to learning, teaching and assessments for you, that you can use in communicating with topic and course coordinators.
Some students with health conditions don’t necessarily resonate with the term ‘disability’, but it is worth considering that the term is inclusive of multiple physical and mental health needs.
- Acquired brain injury
- Autism spectrum
- Hearing impairment
- Intellectual disability
- Medical condition
- Mental health condition
- Neurological
- Physical/mobility disability
- Specific learning disability
- Vision impairment
Even if you don’t end up getting an Access Plan, you might still find a conversation with a Disability Advisor helpful in thinking about how your health condition interacts with your study.
They might be able to direct to other supports and services that may be useful, for example the USEP team, who provide specialist on-campus 1:1 employment advice to empower and support students identifying with: disabilities, chronic illness, injuries, mental health conditions, neurodiversity.
You can learn more about the Disability Service at this link ◀◀
But the purpose of this post is actually to introduce you to the team!
This way you’ll know a bit more about them if you have an appointment 🙂
Helen Laity (manager) has extensive experience working with diverse communities and advocating for individuals to reach their potential. She has worked at Flinders for the past 11 years, first with the Student Association (FUSA) as an advocate and previously with Anglicare. In her current role in Disability Services, Helen continues to champion students’ rights, ensuring that Flinders is an inclusive and supportive environment for all. When not at work she enjoys spending time with family and friends, watching the footy, reading and walking the dog.
Teresa Hudson-Green is a highly experienced Occupational Therapist and Disability Practitioner with over 15 years of experience working with people living with a disability, including in community and hospital settings. Teresa has extensive experience with the provision of assistive technology and has worked as a senior occupational therapist at See Differently with the Royal Society for the Blind. Teresa was born in the UK and moved to Adelaide 15 years ago, she enjoys playing golf, Reformer Pilates, watching footy and listening to true crime podcasts. She is dedicated to empowering and enabling others to reach their true potential.
Sharee Christian has extensive experience working with diverse communities and cultures and has volunteered in Cambodia on numerous occasions in an outreach capacity. She has a Graduate Certificate in Rehabilitation and Service Coordination and has worked as a Case Coordinator with the Royal Society for the Blind and ECH, as well as an Early Childhood Intervention Consultant with Child and Family Health Services. In her current role as a Disability Advisor, Sharee works to ensure that all students’ have access to an inclusive and supportive learning environment. Sharee is an avid animal and beach lover, and when not at work she enjoys spending time with her family and travelling.
Haidee Baker is a registered psychologist with a Master’s degree in School Psychology. She is also a registered teacher. Over the past 15 years she has worked in a range of educational settings, as well as in community mental health organisations and in private practice. She has significant experience in supporting students with ADHD, ASD, specific learning disabilities and mental health conditions. She is passionate about helping students overcome barriers to education. As well as being part of the Disability Services team, Haidee works as a Student Counsellor. She is available at the City Campus on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.
Felicia Wee joined Flinders in 2023 as a Disability Advisor, where she has a passion for supporting students with diverse needs in their university journey to achieve their goals to the fullest extent of their potential. Her role includes providing support, accommodations and resources to students. She is committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment where all students feel empowered to succeed. Felicia has over 20 years’ experience in the disability space, predominantly in education and employment. Her previous roles included special educator, sessional academic, training coordinator and workplace assessor. She combines practical experience with a deep understanding of disability standards and practices to effectively support students facing various challenges. Outside of work, Felicia enjoys hanging out with her family and friends indulging in good food. She also gigs with her community samba band, banging on drums and percussion instruments to Brazilian beats! Felicia does enjoy a good book and planning for her next travel destination.
