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 Wellbeing ↓ ↓ Specific Learning Difficulties Counselling requirements Physical disabilitiesMental health conditions Long-term health conditions

Where we are AccessAbility: The Forum, Streatham Campus. Also offer sessions at St.Lukes campus. Wellbeing: Reed Mews, Streatham 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 – 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: Wellbeing website:

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: Provide advice to disabled students in post-16 education Benefits advice advice service Publications

Top Tips & Useful Resources Directgov: Education and learning link Student finance HEI and course information Graduate careers Postgraduate study

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