Support from my teaching staff
The Disability Advisory and Support Service can provide you with support that will improve your learning experience during your time at University.
These are some examples of recommendations that could be made in order to do this, and some of them may be included on your University Support Plan
This is not an exhaustive list, and recommendations that are made by the Disability Advisory and Support Service will only be suggested if they are appropriate and necessary for you.
All recommendations will be discussed with you, and will only be distributed with your prior knowledge and consent.
Advance copies of lecture notes & slides
Lecture notes are usually available in advance on the University’s Blackboard system, so you should be able to download them for your lectures.
If your lecture notes aren’t available, the Disability Advisory and Support Service will recommend that your lecturer makes notes, presentations or slides available to you in advance.
Alternative format course materials
If you need your texts in a different format, we can help with this. The Library liaises with publishers and will provide textbooks in alternative formats, and your School will be able to make handouts available to you in the format that you need.
Awareness of your condition
We can let the School know about your condition and how it impacts your learning, and give them advice about how they can best support you.
Field trips
You should let the Disability Advisory and Support Service know about any field trips in advance, if you need additional support. This will be arranged on an individual basis with you.
Glossary of technical vocabulary
The Disability Advisory and Support Service can request a glossary of technical vocabulary for you where necessary.
Group work
You can discuss any concerns you have about group work with the Disability Advisory and Support Service, and practical support in this area can be recommended for you.
Lip reader
If you are a lip reader, the Disability Advisory and Support Service will let the School know and give them advice on how they can communicate with you in a way that will allow you to learn in the best way possible. .
Locker
If you need a locker in your School or the Library, this can be recommended for you.
Loop system
If you use a loop system, the Disability Advisory and Support Service can let your School know that you need to be timetabled in rooms where this is available, and that it needs to be switched on.
Needing to leave a lecture or seminar room
The Disability Advisory and Support Service can let your School know that you may need to leave the room for a disability-related reason, so that staff know not to draw attention to you if you leave or return to a session.
Modified or guided reading list
If you need some more direction with the reading list, the Disability Advisory and Support Service can ask the School to provide you with a reading list with the most relevant parts of the texts, including chapters, page numbers and articles, where the course permits.
Podcasts
Some classes are podcasted, and the Disability Advisory and Support Service can ask your School to provide you with access to recordings of these sessions.
Possible attendance Issues
If your condition means that you’re not always able to attend University, the Disability Advisory and Support Service can let your School know so that they can make sure you have access to key information at those times.
You will still need to tell the School when you can’t come in.
Possible difficulties with deadlines
If you have difficulties meeting a deadline, you will need to complete a Mitigating Circumstances application. The Disability Advisory and Support Service’s support will be taken into account when the School is considering whether to allow you to have an extension for a piece of work.
Possible work placement issues
You should let the Disability Advisory and Support Service know about any work placements in advance if you need additional support for these. This will be arranged on an individual basis with you.
If you would like your disability support information to go to your work placement provider, you should give your consent for this.
Practical Work
The Disability Advisory and Support Service can make recommendations for support for practical sessions by discussing this with you and your School.
Presentations/Reading Aloud
If you have concerns about giving presentations or reading aloud, the Disability Advisory and Support Service can recommend support or alternatives to your School.
Timetabling Considerations
If you need to be timetabled in particular rooms, then the Disability Advisory and Support Service can let your School know. The timetabling for the University is done well in advance, so it’s important that you are registered with the Disability Advisory and Support Service as early as possible so that these changes can be made.
If you have any questions about the academic support that we provide, or simply want to know more, please get in touch.
