Staff
Donna-Rose McKay- Head of Service
Donna-Rose has worked at the University of Otago in the area of disability support since 1992. As Head of Service, her role is to facilitate the development of an inclusive environment, which understands, values and supports people with impairments, their differences and differing needs. She is a graduate of the University of Otago.
Donna-Rose has had extensive involvement with the disability community, locally and nationally and has been involved in a number of advisory groups dealing with health and disability support and related issues. Donna-Rose was one of the founding members of ACHIEVE (The National Post Secondary Education Disability Network, NZ).
Tel 03 479 8245
Fax 03 479 5873
Email donna-rose.mckay@otago.ac.nz
Melissa Lethaby-
Learning Support Manager 
Melissa joined the team at Disability Information and Support in 2002. She is the Learning Support Manager at the office and coordinates the provision of learning support services for students with impairments. Melissa has a background in working in human service agencies and has a particular interest in working with students who are Deaf or those who experience mental health issues. She is the President of ACHIEVE, which is a national network, established to ensure equal opportunity and access to post-secondary education and training for people with impairments.
Tel 03 479 8549
Fax 03 479 5873
Email melissa.lethaby@otago.ac.nz
Amanda Burrow -
Administrator - Acting
Tel 03 479 4370
Fax 03 479 5873
Email amanda.burrow@otago.ac.nz
Student Advisors
The Student Advisors assist current and prospective students in making decisions about their course of study.
They will coordinate learning assistance that is tailored to students' individual requirements and where necessary, negotiate various supports from other University staff.
The support they can arrange includes note-taking, one-to-one tutoring and alternative examination arrangements.
Jackie Fox 
Jackie joined the team in 2006 as a Student Advisor. She enjoys meeting with a diverse range of students and has a particular interest in working with students who experience mental health conditions. Promotion of disability awareness and transition from school are areas that Jackie is also interested in.
Tel 03 479 8791
Fax 03 479 5873
Email jackie.fox@otago.ac.nz
Emma Holt 
Emma returned to the office in 2009 after an eight years absence. Having studied at the University of Otago through to Masters level she understands the challenges of university study. She has an appreciation of the issues postgraduate students often face and works closely with students studying from a distance. She is motivated to put in place supports to enable students to study independently and achieve their academic goals
Tel 03 479 4004
Fax 03 479 5873
Email emma.holt@otago.ac.nz
Jenny Weeks 
Jenny has been involved with the University of Otago since 2005 as an undergraduate and postgraduate student and as a staff member. She has worked in a variety of health and education support positions in the UK and NZ. She has been a Student Advisor with our office for the past two years and enjoys working with students to achieve their learning goals.
Tel 03 479 8320
Fax 03 479 5873
Email jenny.weeks@otago.ac.nz
Eileen O'Regan-
Receptionist/Administrative Assistant 
Eileen joined Disability Information & Support in 2006. She is the first point of contact and assists in the administration of the office's various activities, including the arranging of one to one appointments with Student Learning Advisors. If you have any enquiries about Disability Information & Support, please do not hesitate to contact her.
Tel 03 479 8235
Fax 03 479 5873
Email eileen.oregan@otago.ac.nz
Rebecca McFadyen-
Note-taker Administrator
Rebecca joined the team in 2012. Her role, along with Toni, is to provide a note-taking service to students with impairments by enlisting reliable note-takers when required. She has a background in administration, customer services and enjoys the diversity of people she gets to meet and work with each day at the university.
Tel 03 470 4681
Fax 03 479 5873
Toni Patterson-Gallagher-
Note-taker Administrator
Toni joined the team at Disability Information and Support in 2012 as a Note-taker Administrator. The Note-taking team work in conjunction with Student Advisers to coordinate and ensure the delivery of lecture notes for students with impairments. Toni has a background in IT, Training and Administration and enjoys being able to contribute towards the success of others.
Tel 03 479 9785
Fax 03 479 5873
Rachel 'Aluesi-
Student Support Cordinator
Rachel joined Disability Information & Support in 2012. Rachel works with the Learning Support Team and contributes to the retention and success of students with impairments studying at the University of Otago by coordinating the Alternative Arrangements for Terms Tests.
Tel 479 8791
Fax 479 5873
Email rachel.aluesi@otago.ac.nz
Ali Charlton-
Student Support Cordinator
Tel 471 6212
Fax 479 5873
Email ali.charlton@otago.ac.nz
Kerry Twemlow-
Administrative Assistant
Kerry joined Disability Information & Support in 2012. Kerry works with the Learning Support Team and provides administrative assistance to the note-taking service.
