1. Top Tips for a Successful Transition to University for Disabled and Dyslexic Students.
Dr. Melanie Thorley
*AccessAbility Team Coordinator
University of Greenwich

2. Overview Can disabled people go to university?
Why have we created this workshop and who was involved with creating this workshop?
Who is considered a disabled student in higher education?
Why is it important to declare your disability?

3. Can disabled people go to university?
YES
There are very few exceptions in the courses available to DS. Advances in technology and attitudes has broadened the opportunities for disabled people, eg, quad bikes can enable physically disabled people access farms (vets) some construction sites (surveyors) and law (blind lawyers can utilise Braille and other assistive technology).

4. Why and how have we created these tips.
The transition to university can be quite scary for many students and we hope to make the transition a bit easier by sharing our experiences as disabled students.
The tips were created by:
Collaborating with Disability Rights UK.
Consulting disabled students at the University of Greenwich.
Consulting with members of the STAART initiative.
References on the last slide

5. Who is considered to be a disabled student in higher education?
Physical disabilities and long term health conditions.
Autistic spectrum.
Dyslexia spectrum.
Mental health conditions.
HIV, cancer or multiple sclerosis.
You are disabled under the Equality Act 2010 if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term negative impact on your ability to do normal activities. Or long term health condition? ( arthritis……)
You are automatically classified as disabled if you have HIV, cancer or MS.
‘Long term’ means that an impairment is likely to last for the rest of your life, or has lasted at least 12 months or where the total period for which it lasts is likely to be at least 12 months.

6. Why is important to declare a disability?
Apply for Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSA).
Request reasonable adjustments.
You may be able to access specialist staff.
DSA covers specialist equipment, non-medical helpers such as notetakers, sighted guides and interpreters, money for printing, and some travel costs.
How well is inclusive practice embedded across their degree programmes and beyond pockets of good practice?

7. Visit the universities you have applied to
Campuses vary in size – from compact to sprawling.
University accommodation – is it on campus?
If not, what are the transport options?
Eg. Transport options for wheelchair user or students who are uncomfortable with public transport

8. Public transport Trains, buses, coaches.
Easier for family and friends to visit.
Explore.

9. Familiarise yourself with free technology
Before you start…
Mindmapping.
Grammar and punctuation.
Speech-to-text.
Notetaking software.

10. Study Needs Assessment
If you have ticked the disability box on the UCAS form, you will be contacted to organise a study needs assessment.
Fair playing field, not an advantage.
Ie. What reasonable adjustments do you need and how does the university go about it?
Does their provision meet your needs?

11. Questions you may want to ask the university
What initial information does the university provide to help you navigate their campus?
What is included/not included in the induction?
What transport options are available that meet your needs to access campus?
Do they have a mentoring/buddy programme?

12. Questions you may want to ask the university
What range of learning opportunities, approaches and assessment methods does the university use/offer?
Do they have an ‘Ask and Collect’ service at the library?
What range of accommodation do they offer- eg. Quiet themed living environments.
Eg. Alternatives to written papers (audio, presentation…..)
Ask and collect - to provide support to disabled students who find retrieving resources (including books, DVD’s, CDs and pamphlets) from library shelves difficult.
Provide pre -lecture notes?

13. Join the Students’ Union
Clubs.
Societies.
Sports.
Volunteering.
NUS card – discounts.

14. Register with the disability and dyslexia team
As soon as you have accepted your place.
Take your Study Needs Assessment with you.
Hopefully you will not need them but they can act as advocates if you are having difficulties.

15. What does STAART involve?
Support Through AccessAbility – Retention and Transition.
STAART has evolved over the past 9.5 years and is the accumulation of a number of projects.
Supporting prospective and current disabled students (post-16).
Preparing them as much as possible for the realities of higher education.
Encouraging disabled students to declare.

16. Where does STAART happen?
Workshops in schools and colleges.
Workshops on university campuses.
Remotely via social media.
In the future, we are hoping to provide webinars of the campus workshops.
Workshops – top tips for DS, STEMM tips, assistive technology, academic study skills. We are also encouraging our *AAAs to deliver workshops on their subjects and passions.

17. When does STAART operate?
STAART is a rolling programme which started in August 2016.
There is currently no end date.
Disabled students can access STAART from the age of 16.
We would prefer DS to access the support at 16 but they can join at any time after that.

18. How do disabled students access STAART?
Online booking system:

19. References. https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org
DR UK Disabled Students helpline
allowances-dsas/overview

20. Web Facebook University of Greenwich – STAART