NAPLAN Special Provisions: A Parent's Guide to Support for ADHD, Autism and Learning Differences

If your child has ADHD, autism, dyslexia, or any other learning difference, you might be wondering whether they can get support during NAPLAN. The short answer is yes — and it is their right, not a favour.

Every year, thousands of Australian students sit NAPLAN with disability adjustments that help them show what they actually know. These adjustments remove barriers. They do not make the test easier or give an unfair advantage. They simply ensure your child is not penalised for something that has nothing to do with their reading, writing, or maths ability.

With NAPLAN 2026 running from March 11 to 23, February is the time to act. This guide walks you through everything you need to know — what adjustments exist, how to get them, and what to do if the system pushes back.

Your Child's Right to Adjustments

Under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Disability Standards for Education 2005, Australian schools are legally required to make reasonable adjustments so students with disability can access education on the same basis as their peers. NAPLAN is no exception.

ACARA's national guidelines are clear: adjustments are provided to students with disability "to enable an equivalent learner experience during NAPLAN testing and to encourage maximum participation."

This applies to students with:

• ADHD (inattentive, hyperactive, or combined presentation)
• Autism spectrum conditions
• Specific learning disabilities (dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia)
• Anxiety disorders that impact test performance
• Physical disabilities affecting writing or computer use
• Sensory impairments (vision, hearing)
• Intellectual disabilities
• Medical conditions requiring breaks or specific support

If your child receives any kind of learning support in the classroom, there is a strong case that the same support should be available during NAPLAN.

Types of Adjustments Available

The adjustments available for NAPLAN are practical and varied. They fall into two broad categories: those your school can approve directly, and those that require approval from your state's test administration authority.

School-Approved Adjustments

These are the most common and can be arranged by your school principal or NAPLAN coordinator without external approval:

Adjustment	What It Means	Commonly Used For
Extra time	Additional time to complete each test domain	ADHD, processing difficulties, dyslexia
Rest breaks	Supervised breaks during test sessions	ADHD, anxiety, fatigue-related conditions
Separate or quiet room	Individual or small-group supervision	Anxiety, attention difficulties, sensory sensitivities
Colour themes	Modified screen background colour (5 options available)	Visual processing difficulties, dyslexia
Noise-cancelling headphones	Student's usual sensory support tool	Autism, ADHD, sensory processing differences
Fidget tools	Student's usual self-regulation tools	ADHD, autism, anxiety
NAPLAN support person	Assists with indicating responses (reading, language, numeracy)	Physical disability, fine motor difficulties
Adjusted seating or positioning	Specific desk, chair, or room setup	Physical conditions, sensory needs

Authority-Approved Adjustments

These require an application to your state's test administration authority (NESA, VCAA, QCAA, or equivalent):

Adjustment	What It Means	Approval Required From
Scribe	Someone writes or types dictated responses (writing test only)	State authority
Braille test	Test provided in braille format	State authority
Large print / modified format	Alternative format materials	State authority
Electronic PDF test	Working outside the locked-down browser	State authority
Assistive technology	Screen readers, text-to-speech, speech-to-text software	State authority
Oral or sign support	Questions communicated through sign language	State authority

The Golden Rule: Classroom-First

Here is the most important principle to understand: NAPLAN adjustments should reflect what your child already uses in regular classroom learning.

Schools and authorities will look at whether the requested adjustment is the student's normal way of working. If your child already receives extra time on classroom tests, uses noise-cancelling headphones during independent work, or works with a learning support aide, those same supports should carry over to NAPLAN.

This is not about introducing something new for test day. It is about ensuring the test environment matches the learning environment your child already operates in.

If your child does not yet have formal classroom adjustments, now is the time to put them in place — both for their daily learning and to establish the pattern that supports a NAPLAN adjustment request.

How to Apply: A Step-by-Step Timeline

Step 1: Start the Conversation (Now — February)

Contact your child's class teacher or learning support coordinator. If your school has a dedicated special education teacher, learning support team, or inclusion coordinator, start there.

Say something like: "My child has [condition] and currently receives [adjustments] in the classroom. I'd like to discuss what NAPLAN adjustments would be appropriate."

You do not need to be an expert on the system. You just need to start the conversation.

Step 2: Gather Your Documentation

Having the right paperwork makes the process smoother. Useful documents include:

• Diagnostic reports from a psychologist, psychiatrist, or paediatrician
• Educational assessments (psychometric testing, reading assessments)
• Individual Education Plans (IEPs) or Personalised Learning Plans
• Letters from treating professionals (occupational therapists, speech pathologists)
• School learning support records showing existing classroom adjustments
• Previous NAPLAN adjustment records (if applicable)

You do not necessarily need all of these. Some school-level adjustments can be arranged based on existing school records alone. But the more evidence you can provide, the stronger your case — especially for authority-approved adjustments.

Step 3: Collaborate on the Plan

The school will work with you to determine which adjustments are appropriate. This should be a collaborative discussion, not a unilateral decision by the school.

Under ACARA's guidelines, adjustments should be "determined on a case-by-case basis by the school together with the parent/carer and the student." You are part of this decision.

Step 4: Consent and Confirmation

Before test day, the school must discuss and agree on adjustments with you, and you will need to sign a consent form. Make sure you receive written confirmation of exactly which adjustments will be in place.

Step 5: Prepare Your Child

Tell your child what to expect. If they will be in a separate room, visit it beforehand if possible. If they will have extra time, practise with extended timing so they know how to use it. Reduce surprises — the goal is for test day to feel as normal as possible.

State-by-State Guide

While NAPLAN is a national assessment, the approval process for certain adjustments varies by state.

New South Wales (NESA)

• Most adjustments are school-approved
• Adjustments requiring NESA approval are submitted through Schools Online
• Applications for 2026 are already open
• NESA has clear guidelines on disability adjustments for NAPLAN

Victoria (VCAA)

• School-level adjustments managed by principal or NAPLAN coordinator
• Authority-approved adjustments submitted via the NAPLAN Test Administration website
• VCAA approval process opens Monday 2 March 2026 — tight timeline before the March 11 start
• Refer to the 2026 NAPLAN Handbook for Principals for full details

Queensland (QCAA)

• Uses the term "Access Arrangements and Reasonable Adjustments" (AARA)
• School-approved adjustments managed by the principal
• QCAA-approved adjustments require formal application
• Alternative format material requests are due in Term 4 of the preceding year

South Australia (SACE Board / Education SA)

• School-level adjustments follow the national protocols
• Authority-approved adjustments submitted to the South Australian test administration authority
• Contact your school or the SA Department for Education for specific timelines

Western Australia (SCSA)

• School Curriculum and Standards Authority manages WA adjustments
• Schools apply through the SCSA NAPLAN administration process
• School-level adjustments approved by principal

Tasmania, ACT, and Northern Territory

• All follow the national protocols for test administration
• School-level adjustments approved by principal
• Authority-approved adjustments submitted to the relevant state or territory test administration authority
• Contact your school early — smaller jurisdictions may have fewer dedicated support staff, so lead time matters

NAPLAN Results Are Reported Normally

One concern parents often raise is whether receiving adjustments will somehow "mark" their child's results. It will not.

NAPLAN results for students who receive disability adjustments are reported in exactly the same way as results for all other students. There are no flags, asterisks, footnotes, or annotations indicating that adjustments were used. The results go on the same report, in the same format, measuring the same skills.

Your child's NAPLAN results reflect their knowledge and ability — which is exactly what adjustments are designed to ensure.

What If the School Says No?

Sometimes schools are reluctant to arrange adjustments. They may say the process is too complex, that your child's needs are not significant enough, or that they have never done it before. None of these are valid reasons to deny your child their legal right to reasonable adjustments.

Here is what to do:

1. Ask for the reason in writing. A verbal "no" is hard to challenge. A written refusal gives you something concrete to work with.

2. Reference the legislation. The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and Disability Standards for Education 2005 require schools to make reasonable adjustments. ACARA's national guidelines explicitly support adjustments for NAPLAN.

3. Escalate to the principal. If your child's teacher or coordinator is not responsive, take the request to the principal directly.

4. Contact your state's test administration authority. If the school-level process fails:

   • NSW: NESA — (02) 9367 8111
   • VIC: VCAA — (03) 9032 1635
   • QLD: QCAA — (07) 3864 0299
   • Other states: Contact your state education department

5. Seek external advocacy. Organisations like your state's disability advocacy service or parent support networks can help you navigate the system.

Remember: you are not asking for a special favour. You are advocating for your child's right to a fair assessment.

Helping Your Child Prepare

Beyond formal adjustments, there are practical things you can do to help your neurodiverse child feel ready for NAPLAN.

Build Familiarity

NAPLAN is taken online through an adaptive testing platform. The format itself can be a source of anxiety. Let your child practise with online tests so the interface feels familiar. ExamPrepd's adaptive practice platform lets students work through questions at their own pace with no time pressure — which is exactly the kind of low-stakes environment where neurodiverse learners thrive.

Practise with Adjustments in Place

If your child will receive extra time, practise with that same extended timing. If they will use rest breaks, practise taking breaks and getting back on track. The goal is to make test day feel like a normal day — not a high-pressure exception.

Talk About It Honestly

Many children with ADHD or autism are acutely aware that they learn differently. Acknowledge this directly. Explain that adjustments exist because the education system recognises that different brains work differently, and that getting support is a sign of strength, not weakness.

For more strategies on supporting your child, see our guides on ADHD and gifted children and supporting twice-exceptional learners.

Reduce the Stakes

NAPLAN is one data point. It does not determine school entry (with the exception of some selective school processes), university admission, or your child's future. For many neurodiverse children, the biggest barrier is anxiety about the test itself. Normalise it. Keep the conversation matter-of-fact.

If you are also navigating selective school applications, we have specific guides for NSW Selective School accommodations and HSC disability provisions.

Practice Without Pressure

One of the best things you can do for a neurodiverse child preparing for NAPLAN is to give them practice that feels nothing like a high-stakes test.

ExamPrepd's adaptive practice adjusts to your child's level automatically — questions get easier when they struggle and harder when they are ready. There are no ticking countdown timers, no pass/fail screens, and no comparison to other students. Your child works at their own pace, building confidence through mastery rather than speed.

For children with ADHD who need movement breaks, for autistic children who need predictable structure, and for any child who learns differently — this kind of self-paced, low-pressure practice is far more effective than timed mock tests that recreate the very anxiety you are trying to reduce.

Start a free trial and let your child experience what stress-free NAPLAN preparation feels like.

Key Dates for NAPLAN 2026

Date	Event
Now (February 2026)	Contact your school about adjustments
2 March 2026	VCAA authority-approval process opens (Victoria)
11 March 2026	NAPLAN test window opens (writing test on Day 1)
23 March 2026	NAPLAN test window closes
Mid-2026	Results released to schools and parents

Do not wait until March. The schools that handle adjustments well are the ones where parents started the conversation weeks — even months — before the test window.

You Are Your Child's Best Advocate

If there is one thing to take away from this guide, it is this: requesting adjustments is not asking for special treatment. It is ensuring your child has the same opportunity as every other student to show what they know.

The system can feel overwhelming, and not every school makes it easy. But the law is on your side, the national guidelines support you, and thousands of families successfully navigate this process every year.

Start the conversation with your child's school today. Bring your documentation. Be clear about what your child needs. And if you hit a wall, escalate — because your child's right to a fair assessment is not negotiable.

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For more support preparing for Australian exams with learning differences, explore our full series: NAPLAN 2026 Complete Guide | NSW Selective Test Accommodations | HSC Disability Provisions | 11+ Access Arrangements (UK)

References

• ACARA: Adjustments for Students with Disability
• ACARA: Disability Adjustment Scenarios
• ACARA: NAPLAN Accessibility
• ACARA: 2026 NAPLAN National Protocols for Test Administration
• NESA: Disability Adjustments for NAPLAN
• NESA: Adjustments Requiring NESA Approval
• VCAA: NAPLAN Test Administration
• QCAA: NAPLAN Access Arrangements and Reasonable Adjustments
• Disability Discrimination Act 1992
• Disability Standards for Education 2005