1. Student Support Documents in practice
John Harding
Kirsty Wayland

2. To update on the purpose and usage of the Student Support Document
Aims and objectives
To update on the purpose and usage of the Student Support Document
To demonstrate how they are helpful for disabled students and those who support them
To discuss some common adjustments and how they can be best implemented.

3. What is an Student Support Document (SSD)?
Tool to support students and staff
Consolidation of specialist evidence
Planning and preparation
Consistent
Institutional duties met
Live document
Copies of Blank SSDs to hand out?
Tool to support students and staff – stress, helpful, concise, clear, accurate communication tool providing key information in relation to the recommended academic related support requirements for disabled students
Consolidation of specialist evidence – extracts the relevant information regarding support from a range of sources
Planning and preparation - designed to provide information in advance of students arriving where possible to ensuring that support is put in place in time, prior to a student’s arrival
Consistent method of communication for disseminating information concerning disabled students
Institutional duties met – ensures that the University meets its duties to support disabled students under the provisions of the Equality Act – i.e. the duty to make reasonable adjustments and not to discriminate against disabled people.
Live document – can be updated as a result of conversation and collaboration between student and staff across the collegiate University

4. How is the SSD constructed?
Gathering and consolidation of information:
Medical/Specialist evidence
Student Information Form
Study Aids and Strategies Report (NAR)
Adviser Summarises/Recommends in context
Discussion with and approval by student
Distributed to Colleges/Department/Faculties
Gathering of information (by DRC/Disability Adviser);
Medical/Specialist evidence (for example GP’s letter, Clinical or Educational Psychologists report
Student Information Form (Describe how sent out to students – how we received information from CAO)
Study Aids and Strategies Report (NAR) – give short background on DSA process and assessment centres
Summarising/Recommending - all information in the context of the tripos/course needs/college/department
Discussion with and approval by student
Indicate that in some cases where there are significant support requirements, discussions will take place with college and department before the document is produced.

5. How does an SSD help you?
Consolidation of all available relevant information
Advanced notice
Specialist advice
Clear indication of:
Impact on study
Recommended Adjustments/Support
DRC support in place
Provides a link to further information and support
Consolidation of all available relevant information on each disabled student - reduces time to read and absorb from several lengthy documents
Advanced notice – outlines What you need to do clearly and concisely
Specialist advice – based on experience of advising over 1500 disabled students, understanding of reasonable adjustments under the act, and understanding of current practice elsewhere within the HE sector
Clear indication of:
Impact on study – how does the impairment affect the individual’s ability to study?
Recommended Adjustments /support – what support or adjustments need to be established to remove any barriers to learning?
DRC support in place – what has already been put in place by the DRC – e.g. notetaking support, study skills, mentoring, equipment loans etc.
Provides a link to further information and support – link to extensive guidance materials on the DRC website and also to the newly launched on-line training materials as well as providing contact details for the relevant disability Adviser.

6. How does an SSD help disabled students?
Reduces ambiguity, provides consistency, clarity
Prevents repetitive disclosure
Aids smooth transition
Prompt to discuss exam access
Reduces ambiguity, provides consistency – one key document which sets out all of their recommended support – Make note at this point that in come cases a short template may be sent if a student only has very specific adjustments (e.g. college accommodation, catering requirements, H&S info)
Prevents repetitive disclosure conversations etc. – it can be very distressing for a disabled student to have to disclose and have the same conversation over and over again
Aids smooth transition – the SSD is designed to help establish effective support in a timely manner, so that the transition into higher education which can be extremely stressful for some disabled students is as easy as possible.
Identifies recommended exam support – does not constitute an application for exam adjustments though

7. How has the SSD changed and why?
Trialed for two years
Listened to feedback
Shortened
Supported by:
web info,
on-line resources,
face to face
Further developments for 2014/15
Listened to feedback – introduced in 2010 Trialled for two years
Shortened – except in exceptional circumstances 2 pages long - some felt that the document was too lengthy and that a more concise summary of details of impairment, impact and recommended support would be more effective
Supported by web info and on-line resources, face to face
Supported by:
web info, - detailed explanation of disability and why recommendations are made are now available on the DRC webpages ‘Supporting Disabled Students’
on-line resources,
face to face

8. Sample Student Support Documents
For one scenario and biography, consider
How you would make these adjustments in your college/department?
Who would be involved?
What outside help, or further information would you need?