Aim
To ensure candidates have unimpeded access and equal opportunities to attend Mountain Training Leadership courses. Mountain Training aims to ensure its qualifications are accessible to all individuals capable of demonstrating their leadership competence.
Despite the accessibility of Mountain Training qualifications, if a candidate with a particular requirement requires extra assistance, this will be done. In such cases, Mountain Training will make, or allow its providers to make, reasonable adjustments for candidates with particular requirements to ensure that they can access courses and demonstrate attainment.
Common types of special requirements which Mountain Training are prepared to accommodate:
- A moderate hearing or visual impairment;
- A physical disability, such as that resulting in restricted mobility (provided it does not impede performance in the attributes that are the focus of assessment, such as candidates’ ability as a walking leader)
- Dyslexia.
Special requirements not addressed in this policy:
If a provider believes that a candidate with a special requirement not listed in this document has the potential to make a competent leader but needs a reasonable adjustment to be able to access courses, they should apply to the relevant national training board prior to course attendance. The provider should outline the nature of the candidate’s special requirement and suggest an appropriate adjustment.
General principles underpinning reasonable adjustments
Not invalidating the prescribed syllabus requirements:
While Mountain Training will allow a range of reasonable adjustments to accommodate candidates’ special requirements, it will not authorise any adjustments which would prevent leaders from functioning effectively on qualifying and will ensure that any adjustments conform to all relevant requirements. The qualifications offered by Mountain Training are competence-based, and candidates will therefore be assessed on their ability to meet all the syllabus criteria in order to attain the award.
Reflecting candidates assessment needs and usual methods of working:
The reasonable adjustments allowed by Mountain Training will reflect the current needs of individual candidates and, as far as is possible, their usual methods of working. At the time of booking candidates should be asked to give details of their particular requirements and advised that they may request support to meet their individual needs and that all requests considered justifiable by Mountain Training will be granted.
Allowable reasonable adjustments at assessment
Suggested adjustments envisaged for special requirements (as above) accommodated by Mountain Training:
Moderate hearing impairment:
- Have questions by assessors and by those being led/supervised communicated as simply or directly as possible and rephrased whenever necessary.
- Have additional time to complete the leading session
Moderate visual impairment:
- Have additional time to complete the assessment session
- Have any indoor assessment session conducted in a particularly well-lit area and, if the lighting is not adequate, have the session rescheduled at no extra cost
- Have the area of the assessment session specially cleared of any objects which are not necessary for the assessment but over which they might inadvertently trip
For written assessment:
- Use alternatively-presented assessment materials, either produced on audiotape or alternatively printed
- Resend their written work in audio format
- Use a word processor with a Braille keyboard to produce their written work
- Use an amanuensis in controlled conditions (under the supervision of course staff)
- Have additional time for producing written work
Physical disabilities (including restricted mobility):
- Have additional time to complete the assessment session
- Have relevant pieces of equipment adapted for use or use their own adapted versions
For written assessment:
- Use an amanuensis in controlled conditions (under the supervision of course staff)
- Have additional time for producing written work.
Dyslexia:
- Have the written tasks presented to them in audio format
- Use an amanuensis in controlled conditions (under the supervision of course staff)
- Produce work in audio format
- Have additional time for producing written work
Mountain Training have successfully supported candidates with a range of special requirements through training and assessment courses. Good examples are presented here.
Not giving candidates an unfair advantage
Although Mountain Training will allow a range of reasonable adjustments for candidates with special assessment requirements, none of these adjustments will give the candidates in question an unfair advantage over those candidates for whom such adjustments are not being made. This is because the standards themselves will not be changed under any circumstances, and all candidates will be required to complete all the prescribed assessment components and to demonstrate their knowledge, understanding and competence strictly in accordance with the syllabus. It is acknowledged that reasonable adjustments are generally not appropriate when the candidate’s particular difficulty directly affects performance in the actual attributes that are the focus of assessment, such as their leading ability, and no such adjustments will therefore be allowed.
Maintaining the relevance, reliability and comparability of assessment
Mountain Training qualifications are competence-based. All candidates will have to meet all the necessary performance criteria before they can attain the qualification. Mountain Training, the provider and course staff are required to maintain the relevance, reliability and comparability of the assessment of candidates for whom reasonable adjustments have been made.
Further support
If any further support is required it can be obtained from Mountain Training. Providers should keep a record of all reasonable adjustments put in place for their candidates. All information should be recorded in ‘Confidential Comments’ on the relevant course report.
