Reasonable Adjustments Policy

1. Supporting evidence of the candidate’s disability must be from an appropriate authority to summarise the adjustments requested:

For health issues or where candidates receive accommodations at work, a letter from:

• a hospital consultant, or
• the candidate’s GP, or
• the college tutor or supervising consultant, to accompany the report as noted below.

And/or

For physical or mental disability, neurodivergence, specific learning difficulty (SpLD) (dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, auditory processing disorder, ADHD), a report/letter from:

• CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services),
• an Educational Psychologist, Clinical Psychologist or appropriately qualified psychologist registered with the Health Care Professions Council or the Psychological Society of Ireland; or
• an appropriately qualified psychiatrist; or
• a Local Authority Educational Psychology Service; or
• the Local Authority Sensory Impairment Service; or
• a Speech and Language Therapist (SaLT)
   

For pregnancy, a MatB1 form, a letter from a midwife/ GP, or a hospital letter.

2. If a candidate is seeking reasonable adjustments for a Specific Learning Disability (SpLD), they must provide a report from an approved assessor* who is familiar with the components of the FRCA/FFICM/FFPMRCA examinations. It may be helpful for candidates to explore whether there is a referral for assessment service at their local deanery.

*Approved assessors include:

• Specialist teachers who hold a practicing certificate, such as Dyslexia Action, BDA or PATOSS. Candidates can check if an assessor holds the appropriate qualifications on the SASC (SpLD Assessment Standards Committee) website.
• A practicing chartered or educational psychologist who is registered with the Healthcare Professionals Council. A candidate can check if an assessor is registered on the HCPC website.

3. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure that the documentary evidence is true and accurate. When assessed by a disability assessor, candidates should ensure that:

• the assessor is familiar with the exam component(s) and guidance provided in sections 10 and 11.
• educational psychologists and experts understand the professional nature of the examinations and the competence standard being assessed.
• the experts have access to the appropriate extract of the curriculum so that they are aware of the knowledge and skills that are tested.
• experts are aware of the structure of the examination.
• reports from experts must confirm that they reviewed the disability assessor guidance documentation which outlines the competence standards for the relevant exam component.

4. If the rationale for reasonable adjustments in the evidence or report provided is unclear or it is felt that further explanation is required, the College may approach the relevant GP, consultant, or assessor/expert concerned for further clarification.