What provisions can be made for my disability?

This article provides an overview of the adjustments that can be made, and the specialist support you can access, to support you in your studies. This article indicates example adjustments that may be possible based on the documents you provide at registration. Your KIP is tailored to your needs. This is not a guarantee of exact adjustments.

Important to know: If you have yet to register with the Disability Support and Inclusion team, please read our article How do I register with Disability Support for the first time? By registering you will be able to access the Disability Support and Inclusion team's specialist support.

Accessing Advice & Support

Our Disability Support team can provide you with support and advice on how to apply for the following: 

Disabled Students' Allowance 
Mitigating Circumstances 
Additional disability support from the team 
Accessing other internal support services such as counselling

If you are a Postgraduate Research student, read the article on the PGR adjustments planner to find out how we can support you. For more information on support for viva examinations, check our article What disability adjustments can be made when taking viva examinations?

How can I contact Disability Support?

To discuss your support options further: 

You can contact Disability Support via email.
Attend a drop-in where you'll be able to meet with a member of the team.
You can book an online drop in for a quick query.

For the latest guidance on contacting the team, please read our article  How can I contact the Disability Support & Inclusion team?

What evidence is required for support and adjustments?

For Specific Learning Differences

This section is relevant for students with Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, (Specific Learning Difference) / ADHD. We will need a diagnostic assessment report that is in line with nationally recognised guidelines, from a practitioner or suitably qualified specialist teacher assessor holding an Assessment Practising Certificate (APC). A diagnostic assessment should meet SASC guidelines and be based on tests recommended in the guidelines. You can find out more details on the SpLD assessment standards committee (SASC) webpages. If you don't have a diagnostic report, please contact Disability Support team for advice.

This section is relevant for students with Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, (Specific Learning Difference) / ADHD diagnosed as a specific learning difference.

For Medical Conditions

This section is relevant to students with medical conditions. A recent completed medical certificate or letter from a suitably qualified medical professional such as your GP. If your evidence is more than 1 year old, we may ask you to provide a new letter from your GP confirming that the contents of the old letter are still valid and include any changes in your conditions.

If you have an Autistic Spectrum Condition, it's helpful if you can provide your full assessment.

For mental health conditions, evidence must be provided by a registered medical professional who is qualified to make a diagnosis, such as a general practitioner (GP), psychiatrist, or clinical psychologist.

Important to know: Letters from therapists and allied professionals (including psychotherapists, counsellors, psychological wellbeing practitioners (PWPs), support workers, and social workers) are usually not sufficient as these practitioners cannot make a medical diagnosis.

If you are seeking new medical evidence it is helpful if the letter describes the following:

The nature of your disability, long term medical or mental health condition
When it was first diagnosed
The likely duration
A brief account of how the condition affects you on a day to day basis
An indication of how the condition may affect your studies, including examinations
Any prescribed medication and the impact of any possible side effects
Any other coping strategies you use to manage your disability, long term medical or mental health condition

International students must provide an authorised English translation of any supporting documents that are not originally written in English. See your embassy for a list of authorised agencies. The original (untranslated) document must also be provided, and this must be signed by the author.