The Accessibility, Disability & Inclusion (ADI) Team supports students with disabilities, neurodivergence, sensory impairments, long-term physical or mental health conditions and other disability-related accessibility requirements.
The team's role is about much more than arranging adjustments. ADI works with students and academic colleagues to identify and remove barriers to learning and participation, develop personalised support, and help make teaching, learning and assessment more inclusive and accessible.
Your Accessibility, Disability & Inclusion Adviser
One of the strengths of the service is its course-specific approach.
Accessibility, Disability & Inclusion Advisers are aligned to particular course areas. This means your adviser can develop an understanding of the structure, demands and particular requirements of your course, rather than considering your disability or support needs in isolation.
Your adviser can work collaboratively with you and your faculty to develop a meaningful, personalised support plan and help ensure that agreed support is accessible to the teaching staff who need to know about it.
You can also book an appointment with an adviser, giving you an opportunity to discuss your circumstances and support needs directly.
How can the team help?
You may want to contact ADI if you:
- have a disability or long-term health condition;
- have a mental health condition that has a long-term impact;
- are neurodivergent or have a specific learning difference;
- have a sensory impairment;
- are experiencing disability-related barriers to your studies;
- need reasonable adjustments to teaching, learning or assessment;
- would like existing adjustments reviewed because your circumstances or course requirements have changed;
- need advice about disability-related support for your particular course;
- are applying to the University and want to discuss support before starting;
- need advice about Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) or other funded support; or
- are unsure whether ADI is the right service and would like to discuss what support may be available.
The team can support eligible students with applications for additional funded support such as Disabled Students' Allowances (DSAs) and works with students from the pre-entry stage through their University experience.
Reasonable adjustments and your academic standards
Reasonable adjustments are intended to remove or reduce disability-related disadvantage so that you can access and participate in your education.
They are not about making your course easier or lowering its academic standards.
You will still be expected to demonstrate the learning outcomes and academic requirements of your course.
Some courses also contain competence standards — for example, requirements that are genuinely necessary to demonstrate that somebody has achieved a particular academic, professional or practical competence. A reasonable adjustment does not require a legitimate competence standard itself to be changed. However, consideration should be given to whether the way in which you demonstrate that competence can reasonably be adjusted.
This can be particularly important on courses involving:
- placements;
- clinical or professional practice;
- laboratories or practical activity;
- fieldwork;
- performance;
- professional, statutory or regulatory body requirements.
Your ADI Adviser can work with you and relevant University colleagues to consider how disability-related barriers can be addressed while maintaining the required academic and professional standards of your course.
Accessibility is wider than an individual adjustment
The team's work also contributes to the University's wider approach to accessibility and inclusion.
This includes working with colleagues to identify barriers, support inclusive practice and accessibility, and improve the accessibility of the student experience. The University's current service approach specifically includes proactive work with academic colleagues around inclusive teaching, learning and assessment.
So you do not necessarily need to contact ADI only because you want a particular adjustment. If you are experiencing an accessibility barrier within your learning environment or student experience, the team can help you understand the options available.
You do not have to wait until you are struggling
Early conversations can make it easier to have appropriate support in place when you need it.
You can contact the team before beginning your studies or at any point while you are a student. The University specifically supports early and pre-enrolment engagement where students want to prepare for the transition into university study.
If your condition, circumstances or the demands of your course change, you can also return to the team to discuss whether your existing support remains appropriate.
You do not need to know exactly what adjustment you need before contacting the team. Part of the adviser's role is to explore this with you.
Contact Accessibility, Disability & Inclusion
You can contact the team by email or book an appointment directly with an Accessibility, Disability & Inclusion Adviser. The Student Life Service Desk is also available Monday to Friday, 10am–4pm, at the Ambika Paul Building on City Campus.