Disability Support Service

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Disability Support Service

• Jo Mitchell
• Senior Disability Officer
• Feb March 2009

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The Disability Support Service Team

• David Keegan Mental Health Well-being
  Coordinator
• Jo Mitchell Senior Disability Officer
• Diane McClymont Disability Advisor
• Nancy Morson Disability Advisor (H H)
• Simon Rose Disability Advisor
• Leigh ORegan Sue Adamson Learning Support
  Coordinators
• Mike Perry Technical Advisor
• Glenda Smith Projects Coordinator
• Sue Jones Administrative Assistant

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Disability Support Service

• The Disability Support Service aims to provide
  advice and guidance to disabled students,
  including but not limited to students with
  specific learning difficulties, mental health
  difficulties, mobility difficulties, hearing
  impairments, visual impairments, unseen
  disabilities, medical conditions, Asperger
  syndrome etc.
• The Disability Support Service works with
  prospective and current students

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Admissions

• Students who declare a disability during the
  application process are sent a Learning Support
  Questionnaire (LSQ).
• The LSQ asks students to tell us about their
  anticipated requirements.
• The LSQ is sent to the Disability Coordinator in
  the relevant academic department.
• The relevant Disability Advisor contacts the
  students before the start of the course to look
  at what support is on offer and what support they
  may require.

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Confidentiality and disclosure

• Prospective and current students are asked to
  sign a Release of Information.
• This gives permission for the Disability Support
  Service to liaise with relevant individuals and
  agencies in order to meet the requirements of the
  student.
• The student can limit who has access to
  information about their disability.
• The University of Huddersfield is obliged to
  provide as many opportunities for a student to
  declare a disability as possible including
  providing an environment where students feel
  comfortable to declare.

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Establishing the students requirements

• Assistance to establish what support is required
• - Evidence from GP/Specialists
• - Screening and Educational Psychologist
  Reports (students with a specific
  learning difficulty)
• Assistance in applying for Disabled Students
  Allowance (DSA) which involves a full assessment
  of the students needs

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Disabled Students Allowance (DSA)

• DSA is available to full and part time students
  in higher education and some post graduate
  students.
• It helps to pay for extra costs incurred during
  studies as a direct result of a students
  disability.
• DSA assessments make recommendations by taking
  into account the course requirements and the
  students disability.
• DSA covers the cost of specialist equipment
  training, support workers/non-medical helpers
  allowance, consumable items, travel costs etc.

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Personal Learning Support Plan

• Support requirements communicated to staff in the
  students Personal Learning Support Plan (PLSP).
  Information is circulated via the Department
  Disability Coordinator.
• The PLSP outlines support covering different
  areas general learning and teaching
  situations library exams and assessments
  support worker provision placements lab
  work/field trips Personal Emergency Evacuation
  Plans etc.
• The PLSP outlines the students responsibilities.

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Examples of Adjustments

• Learning and teaching situations provision of
  lecture notes in advance, provision to record
  lectures, provide handouts/teaching materials in
  alternative formats, provide modified or guided
  reading lists, face the front whilst teaching
  etc.
• Exams and assessments flexible deadlines, email
  submission, extra time, use of a PC, use of an
  amanuensis, separate room etc.
• Placements use of assistive software,
  adjustments to length of placement/number of days
  worked each week, support worker, location of
  placement etc.

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Support Workers

• Note takers (passive)
• BSL Interpreters
• Amanuensis/Readers/Prompters
• Campus Support Workers (non-medical support)
• Library Assistants
• Study Buddies
• Teacher of the Deaf
• Study Mentors
• Dyslexia tutors

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Disability Support Service ongoing work

• On-going support to students appointments with
  Disability Advisors, daily drop-in during term
  time (12.00 1.00pm), meetings, telephone
  support etc.
• Service evaluation feedback groups, individual
  reviews, Support Worker reviews etc.
• Advice and guidance to Schools and Services.
  Training on disability related issues.
• Links with other departments Finance, Careers,
  external agencies

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Thank you