Transcript Document

AccessAbility & Wellbeing
Support for students with Specific Learning Difficulties,
mental health difficulties, other disabilities/health conditions
Aims of session
• Overview of support
• Finding out about support before and during application
• Financial help – in advance
• Getting support when here
• Top tips and useful resources
Who we are
Part of Student Services
Provide support to students to have equal access to their studies
AccessAbility
↓
Specific Learning Difficulties
Physical disabilities
Long-term health conditions
Wellbeing
↓
Counselling requirements
Mental health conditions
Where we are
AccessAbility:
Wellbeing:
The Forum,
Streatham Campus.
Reed Mews,
Streatham Campus
Also offer sessions at
St.Lukes campus.
Also offer sessions in
the forum.
Snapshot of what we do
• Provide advice, guidance, signposting to other services
• Advisers, Study Skills Tutors, Wellbeing counsellors & mental health
practitioners
• Every College has an AccessAbility Liaison Contact as well
Snapshot of what we do
• Advice on support for studies
• Study skills tuition, Mentoring, Counselling
• Dyslexia screenings
• Readers and scribes for exams, note takers for lecturers
• Support workers for labs or the library
• Arranging sign language interpreters
Snapshot of what we do
• Advice and help on accessing text
• Exams support (eg. extra time)
• Accommodation support – including hearing alert equipment in rooms
and evacuation plans
• Advice on disability-related funding
Before and during application
How to contact us:
• Indicate disability on UCAS form (generates our contact to you)
• Telephone or email – contact details via university website
• Visit and meet an adviser/member of staff
• Web pages – valuable sources of information
Before and during application
What to consider and tell the university about:
•Previous support requirements at school/college
(these won’t transfer across automatically)
•Additional requirements for higher education
(accommodation/independent living/independent study/types of teaching)
Before and during application
Disclosure and confidentiality:
• UCAS disclosure – allows university to contact you about support
• Data Protection Act –
Personal information is only shared
with the student’s consent
on a “need to know” basis
Financial help – up front
Disabled Students Allowance:
• Grant to help meet the extra course costs faced because of a disability
• Paid on top of the standard student finance package, or on its own.
• Don’t have to pay it back
• For UK students
• Apply online March before course starts (Directgov website)
Financial help – up front
Disabled Students Allowance:
Examples of what it can provide…
• Specialist equipment (eg. computer software )
• Non-medical helpers (eg. a note-taker or reader)
• Extra travel costs
• Extra accommodation costs
• Misc. costs such as photocopying or printer cartridges
Financial help – up front
Disability Living Allowance:
• Helps with extra costs due to a disability
• Eligibility:
You have a physical or mental health disability, or both
Your disability is severe enough for you to need help caring for yourself or
you have walking difficulties, or both
You are under 65 when you claim
• Can provide housing benefit to help with accommodation
Financial help – up front
• Charitable Trusts
• Snowdon Award
• Helpful for non-UK students
Financial help – on arrival
Access to Learning Fund:
• Managed by Student Guild
• Assists students who need extra financial support (disabled students
prioritised)
• UK students
• Helps top up DSA
You’re here – Getting Support
Reasonable Adjustments:
Equality Act 2010:
• Prevents and addresses disability discrimination and disability related
harassment.
• Duty of universities to provide reasonable adjustments.
You’re here – Getting Support
Reasonable Adjustments – Examples:
UCAS Guide for students with disabilities – video:
UCAS - guide for students with disabilities - UCAStv - YouTube
You’re here – Getting Support
The role of the AccessAbility Adviser:
• 1:1 sessions
• Set up tailored learning plans
• Provide support for course related issues
• Assistance with accessing support from other departments within the university
• Providing information about community based support which is available
You’re here – Getting Support
The role of the Wellbeing Practitioner:
• Counseling support and mental health mentoring sessions
• Set up tailored learning plans
• Provide support for course related issues
• Assistance with accessing support from other departments within the university
• Providing information about community based support which is available
You’re here – Getting Support
Other Services:
• Student Guild
• Personal Tutors within the subject department
• College AccessAbility Liaison staff
• Student Information Desk
You’re here – Getting Support
Accessible Accommodation:
• Somewhere quieter
• Enhanced access (for mobility)
• Fridge for medication
• Hearing alert equipment
Top Tips & Useful Resources
AccessAbility website:
http://www.exeter.ac.uk/accessability/
Wellbeing website:
http://www.exeter.ac.uk/wellbeing/
Top Tips & Useful Resources
• Plan as far in advance as possible
• Find out who to contact
• Pass
•
on requirements
Funding for extra costs
• Don’t be afraid to ask
Top Tips & Useful Resources
Disability Rights UK:
• http://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/disabledstudents.htm
• Provide advice to disabled students in post-16 education
• Benefits advice
• Email advice service
• Publications
Top Tips & Useful Resources
Directgov:
• http://www.direct.gov.uk
• Education and learning link
• Student finance
• HEI and course information
• Graduate careers
• Postgraduate study
ANY QUESTIONS?
Contact us:
[email protected]
[email protected]
01392 723880
01392 724381