According to the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, a disability is defined as:
“A physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on a person’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.”
Accessible Learning Support (previously known as Disability Services) currently support over 3200 students. Students engaging with Accessible Learning Support will have completed a pre-registration questionnaire, agreed supports with a Disability Officer and have been provided with an Individual Student Support Agreement (ISSA) which has been shared with their School. Supports provided by Accessible Learning may include recommendations such as flexibility with deadlines, exam support and permission to record lectures. Supports recommended will depend on individual need and course requirements. Ideally, when students apply for university, they tick the appropriate box on the UCAS form to enable information about disability support to be communicated to them early. This is so supports can be accessed as soon as possible ahead of, or during the first semester of the new academic year. There are many students however, who do not disclose their condition until they find themselves struggling with studies. In recent years, there have been an influx of registrations for August resits where students are clamouring for help after exam disappointments.
Students may develop a long-term condition during their studies, or it might be suggested by staff that an assessment is considered for a specific learning difficulty such as Dyslexia. Many students who have been diagnosed with mental health conditions such as Anxiety or Depression report that they did not consider this a disability and therefore eligible for support. In reality, these are both potentially long-term conditions that impact daily life. Disabilities can be hidden and these are equally worthy of support.
There is an additional distinction within the world of Disability Services that students need to be aware of. There are two different types of support on offer. Disability Services help with arranging in-course support. These arrangements are put in place internally; the awareness of staff, permissions to record lectures, exam supports etc Anything that involves a cost however, such as special equipment, software, and helpers (e.g. note takers and specialist tutors) are managed through funded support such as the Disabled Student Allowance. This is funding applied for through your local education authority. Assessments and queries about this go through the Needs Assessment Centre at Queen’s.
Students from the Republic of Ireland apply to the Fund for Students with Disabilities. International Students can utilise the Student Support Fund. These students can receive advice about applying through their Disability Officer. The funding bit can sound complicated but the main thing to remember is to try to apply as early as possible as it can take months before you will have the equipment in your hand.
Our website has loads of information about Accessible Learning Support and the Disabled Student Allowance. You can also talk to us in Drop-in to find out more about the processes. Supporting documentation such as a letter from a medical professional is encouraged to begin the process of accessing your support through Disability Services. If you feel that you have a condition that will impact your studies, please talk to your GP. If you believe you need an assessment for a condition such as Dyslexia, we can direct you on the processes and eligibility criteria. If obtaining evidence of your condition is a barrier to accessing support, please complete the form with as much detail as possible and a member of the team will be in touch to discuss this further with you.
Getting the appropriate support often allows students breathing room to focus on study rather than panicking about falling behind or succumbing to overwhelm. This can have a massive impact on the student experience and the chances of success.
For more information: Support Available | Student Centre | Queen’s University Belfast (qub.ac.uk)
Guidance for Medical Evidence | Student Centre | Queen’s University Belfast (qub.ac.uk)
ALS Info Hub – Your go-to space for support, events, and opportunities at QUB