Support from my teaching staff

We can work with your School and teaching staff to put support in place that helps you access your course.

This support is based on your individual needs and will be shared with your School on your University Support Plan.

On this page, you’ll find information about some of the adjustments we may recommend/have recommended for you and how they work in practice.

Not all adjustments will apply to you. We’ll discuss your support with you and only share information with your agreement.

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.

Identifying mandatory reading

Most Schools provide structured reading lists identifying:

  • required texts
  • chapters
  • weekly or topic-based reading

If this isn’t provided and we’ve told the School you need it, or you’re having difficulties with your course reading:

  • contact the academic leading the teaching

Lecture recordings (podcasts)

Most lecture recordings (podcasts) are available to students on their course.

Your Disability Support Plan may give you access to recordings that aren’t available to other students. This is for your personal study only.

Using recordings

You must follow the University’s rules on using recordings. This means:

  • Do not share recordings with anyone else
  • Do not upload recordings or make them public
  • Do not copy or distribute recordings in any format
  • Delete any personal copies when you no longer need them

Misuse of recordings may lead to disciplinary action.

Where recordings aren’t available

Not all teaching is recorded. For example:

  • sessions in centrally timetabled rooms are usually recorded
  • seminars and smaller teaching sessions are not usually recorded

If a session isn’t recorded and you need support, contact your School or DASS.

More information

See the University policy on recording lectures and teaching activities.

Disability-related attendance requirements

We can tell the School that your disability may sometimes affect your attendance. This might mean you can’t attend sometimes, or your attendance varies.

If this happens, please let your School know, especially if your absence is ongoing or is affecting your studies.

If your absence affects an assessment, apply for mitigating circumstances as soon as you can.

Some courses have attendance requirements that you need to meet.

If you have a student visa, your attendance could affect it. Check the your visa responsibilities for details.

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.