Support Services for Disabled Students at UCL

An overview of provisionSeptember 2009

Student Disability Services

Core staff:• Disability Co-ordinator Marion Hingston Lamb• Dyslexia Co-ordinator Claire Jamieson• Disability Adviser Jenny Alsop• Disability Adviser (Mental Health) Danny Marfany• Administrator Alison Angel

Plus part time specialist staff:

tuition for students with dyslexia and other splds,

mentors for students with mental health difficulties

mentors for students with Asperger syndrome

The Student Disability Centre

• G16, Registry• South Wing

• Tel: 020 7679 0100

• m.lamb@ucl.ac.uk• c.jamieson @ucl.ac.uk• jenny.alsop@ucl.ac.uk• d.marfany@ucl• a.angel@ucl.ac.uk

The SEN IT suiteMain Building- South Junction

• IT suite for disabled students • 8 PCs with specialist software- mind-

mapping; voice activated; screen reading; Braille translation

• Printer, scanners, Braille embosser• Support and training provided by the

Disability IT Support Officer Michele Farmer

• m.farmer@ucl.ac.uk

What do we do for students?

• Provide information about UCL for disabled students

• Advise disabled applicants and students

• Support current students

• Provide specialist equipment

• Arrange specialist support

Disabled students at UCL 2008-09

• 1247 disabled students

• 5.47% of total student population

• 668 with a diagnosis of dyslexia or another specific leaning difficulty

• Specific learning difficulties – e.g. dyslexia, dyspraxia / developmental coordination disorder

• Autism/Asperger syndrome• Sensory impairment• Physical disability (including Repetitive Strain

Injury/upper limb disorder)• Mental illness• Unseen disability- e.g. epilepsy, asthma and

diabetes• Medical condition (including fluctuating

conditions)• Any other condition which has a significant effect

on the ability to study.

The Disability Discrimination Act

Since September 2002 it has been illegal to

• treat disabled students less favourably for a disability related reason

• Fail to make reasonable adjustments where existing arrangements or provision place disabled students at substantial disadvantage

Definition of disability

• A person has a disability if he has a physical or mental impairment, which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities

• Anyone who has HIV, Cancer or Multiple Sclerosis is automatically treated as disabled under the Act.

The duties are ANTICIPATORY

• the needs of disabled users taken into account in all new builds, new facility design, alterations and maintenance. HEFCE have awarded UCL over £2million to improve its estates.

• Audit of all buildings

• New programmes are examined to ensure no illegal discrimination

The duties are ANTICIPATORY

• All processes from admissions to graduation eg:

• Publicity available in alternative formats• Invitations to interview ask about

adjustments a disabled applicant might need

• Person responsible for booking rooms aware of need to take needs of eg student with mobility difficulties into account

How do we know if a student is disabled?

• Duty to take reasonable steps to find out about a person’s disability

• Duty to be proactive

• But confidentiality must be respected (Data Protection Act)

Finding out (2)

• Creating a culture that encourages disclosure eg:

• Current disabled students participate in programme inductions for new students

• Importance of personal tutor

• Students asked (confidentially) before field trips etc

Passing on information(with student’s permission)

• SDS asks students to sign agreement that information can be passed on - on a ‘need to know basis’

• A summary of needs is put together after discussion with the student and sent to the academic department (usually personal tutor and Departmental Administrator).

• It is important that the information is passed to all those who teach the student

Funding support (1)

• Almost all UK disabled students will be able to claim Disabled Students Allowances

• Non means tested, for specific support- unrelated to DLA and other government benefits

• Examples: PC with mind-mapping software; someone to take notes in lecture; specialist dyslexia tuition

• We support and guide students through the application/ assessment process and liaise with funding body on their behalf

Funding support (2)

• Disabled international students can apply for support directly to Student Disability Services

• Necessary equipment is loaned (eg laptop, radio aid, digital recorder)

• SDS will fund required support workers including dyslexia tuition

What might be reasonable adjustments for a deaf student? DEPARTMENT• Provide hard copies of

any OHTs/slides and written list of key words (if not available on-line)

• Establish clear protocol in discussions- eg only one speaker at a time

• Lecturer to face audience

UCL• Extra time in exams• Install induction loop in

teaching rooms• Individual library

inductions

What might be reasonable adjustments for a deaf student?

Funded by DSA (UK student) or UCL if international student

• Arrange for student to have note taker/interpreter in lectures

• Radio aid

What might be reasonable adjustments for a blind student?

DEPARTMENT• Provide course

information on disk• Booklists on disk well

in advance• Directed reading• Provide

OHTs/slides/board information on disk or large print in advance

UCL• Extra time in exams,

paper in accessible format

• Use of amanuensis/ wp

• Specialist pc software in SEnIT Suite/ teaching labs

What might be reasonable adjustments for a blind student?

Funded by DSA (UK student) or UCL if international student

• Note taker

• Library assistance

• reader

What might be reasonable adjustments for a student with a medical condition?

Department• Allow some flexibility

in attendance requirements

• Allow some flexibility in coursework deadlines (with caution!)

UCL• Special exam

arrangements eg rest breaks

• Additional library services

• Provide suitable seating

What might be reasonable adjustments for a student with a medical condition?

Funded by DSA (UK student) or UCL if international student

• Pc and other equipment to enable student to work from home

• digital recorder for lectures• Note taker • General assistant (library/photocopying

etc)