Every Monday, firstpoint publishes five points about a topic related to life at university. This week, find out more about the Disability & Dyslexia Service…
POINT ONE: DECLARING A DISABILITY TO THE DISABILITY AND DYSLEXIA SERVICE…
The Disability and Dyslexia Service are here to help you if you are a student who has a disability or a long-term condition that affects your ability to study. You may feel your condition is not a disability or you aren’t sure if you are eligible for support whilst studying at Worcester. It is always worth contacting the service to ask if you fit the criteria for support adjustments.
You can find out more or arrange an appointment with a specialist adviser by visiting the Disability & Dyslexia webpages
POINT TWO: WHAT IS A DISABILITY…
To access support, you can visit the appointment booking page to book an appointment with a Disability Adviser who can discuss your support needs and advise on how to access the support. We will ask you to register with the service and ask for you to give us consent to share support information.
Some examples of support (reasonable adjustments) that can be made are extra time in exams, specialist chairs, accommodation adjustments.
POINT THREE: ACCESSING SUPPORT…
To access support, you can visit the appointment booking page to book an appointment with a Disability Adviser who can discuss your support needs and advise on how to access the support. We will ask you to register with the service and ask for you to give us consent to share support information.
Some examples of support (reasonable adjustments) that can be made are extra time in exams, specialist chairs, accommodation adjustments.
POINT FOUR: WHAT EVIDENCE IS REQUIRED…
You will need evidence of your disability. This is normally in the form of a letter from a doctor or other qualified medical professional, provided on headed note paper, which confirms the diagnosis of the condition, whether the condition is long term (more than 12 months) and how your condition impacts upon your ability to carry out daily activities, particularly in the context of university life.
For students with a specific learning difference, evidence is required in the form of a full diagnostic report.
For students with an autistic spectrum condition, other evidence may be suitable such as an educational healthcare plan (EHCP).
For students with short term conditions the University will still explore what support it can put in place.
If you are not sure if your evidence is sufficient, please contact the Disability and Dyslexia Service to book an appointment with a Disability Adviser who can discuss this with you.
POINT FIVE: APPLYING FOR FUNDING…
In addition to the support that the University can offer you, you may be eligible for external sources of funding that may pay for equipment, human support, taxis, paper and printing costs.
The advisers can discuss your eligibility and help guide you through the process of applying for Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA). Visit the appointment booking page to talk to the team.
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