Students with disabilities or Specific Learning Differences (SpLD)

If you have a disability, medical condition or dyslexia/neurodivergence, you can tell us at any time – in your application through UCAS, after you’ve accepted an offer, once you’ve enrolled, or during your course. However, the sooner you tell us the better we will be prepared to support you at the start of your course.

We understand you might not feel comfortable sharing this information, but please don’t worry. You can decide how the information is used and what is shared with other services including your academic team. We’re here to help, and you can talk to us in confidence. Our aim is simply to make sure your UCA experience is as good as it can be, and that you feel supported through your studies.

You can email us at [email protected], call us on the relevant number at the bottom of the page depending on the Campus you are based, or if you’re already on campus, ask for the disability team via the Gateway desk in your campus library.

We have a team of experienced and trained support staff who can work with you to understand your requirements and what you might need.

Here's what the Dyslexia and Learning Support team can do for you:

• Screening Tests: Give you a short screening test to identify your learning needs. This is for those students who do not have a diagnosed SpLD but are experiencing difficulties.
• Diagnostic Assessments: Show you how to get official evidence of your SpLD by having a Diagnostic Assessment (UCA can usually help with the cost of this).
• Disabled Students Allowance (DSA): Help you apply for DSA, a fund run by Student Finance England that pays for helpful technology and software, or regular support from a Study Skills tutor.
• Individual Learning Plans (ILP): Write you an ILP that identifies your specific learning needs and the type of adjustments that can be put in place to support you to ensure you have the same chance of success as other students.
• Assignment Planning and Structure: This can include anything from understanding the project briefs, so you know you are on the right track to time management and organisation to help you submit your assignments on time.

In many cases, UK students applying for higher education courses may be able to apply for the Disabled Students Allowance (DSA).

DSA support covers: 

• Specialist equipment – for example if a student needs a computer to run specialist software or braille display.
• Non-medical helpers – for example, if a British Sign Language interpreter is required to attend lectures.
• Travel – for example, if a taxi is needed to attend university, rather than using public transport.
• A range of general costs may also be considered, related to a student’s disability.

 DSA does not depend on household income and doesn’t need to be repaid.

When you go to university, your Educational Health & Care (EHC) plan stops. This does not mean you stop getting support. It means you will get support through Disabled Student Allowance and or your local social care team for personal care support. Please read our Guidance on Personal Care Support for more information.

We ask that you share your up-to-date Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) with the disabilities team so we can learn more about your needs. You can contact the social care team by phone or online and ask for a needs assessment if you require support with personal care.

The NHS have a step-by-step guide on how apply for a needs assessment.

It is important that you have any personal care support in place before you start at your university. The University does not provide support or funding for personal care or medical treatment (including medication, medical supplies or mobility equipment) because you would need these things even if you were not a student. Please register with a GP near your campus as soon as possible.

Please seek advice in your home country on what support you might be entitled to. Please read UCA’sInternational Student Support Service Statement for further information. You could also consider what other funding may be available through grant giving trusts and charities.

Further information can be provided by our Specialist Advisers.

Further information on fees, funding and support for international students can be found on the UKCISA website.

• School term(s): Special Education Needs & Disabilities (SEND), Special Needs, Special Educational Needs (SEN), Additional Needs
• University term(s): Disability & SpLDs (Specific Learning Difficulties)

Universities do not use the term ‘Special Educational Needs’ as this is specific to schools and colleges. Instead, universities use the word ‘disability’. This may feel unfamiliar, but the term ‘disability’ is broad and considers any physical, mental or sensory impairment which has a significant impact on daily life, and which is long term (ie. lasts more than 12 months). For a student, daily activities might include taking notes, writing, researching, reading large amounts of text and moving between multiple locations.

This includes people who:

• Are D/deaf or hearing impaired Are blind or visually impaired Are physically disabled, and/or have mobility difficulties
• Have a specific learning difficulty (for example, dyslexia)
• Have a neurodevelopmental condition (for example, AD(H)D)
• Have a neurological condition (for example, epilepsy, Tourette Syndrome, stammer)
• Are autistic
• Have a mental health condition
• Have a long-term medical condition (for example, chronic fatigue syndrome, asthma, diabetes, cancer, HIV)
• Have a combination of these

If any of these apply to you, you are likely to be eligible for support and adjustments to your learning, teaching and assessment.

Although it might feel difficult or unfamiliar to use the term ‘disability’ or ‘disabled’ for the first time, remember that disability is about the barriers created by society, not about your worth, ability or intellect. Identifying as disabled gives you protection under the Equality Act 2010 and enables you to access support and adjustments.

• School term(s): SEND Department, Additional Learning Support (ALS), Learning Support Team
• University term(s): Disability & SpLD Team, Gateway, Student Services, Academic Services

The name given to the service or team that supports disabled students varies depending on the university, but most will contain the word ‘disability’, ‘wellbeing’ or ‘support’ in their title. Use a search engine to search for the name of the university plus the word ‘disability’ or contact Student Services at the university to ask for details.

Students access our Disability & SpLD team via our Gateway service, located in our libraries.

• School term(s): Special Educational Needs (& Disability) Coordinator (SENCo or SENDCo) Inclusion Manager Teaching Assistant (TA) Learning Support Assistant (LSA) Learning Mentor Learning Support Coordinator 
• University term(s): Disability Services Manager, Learning Support Manager, Inclusion Mentor, Inclusion Adviser, Dyslexia Adviser 

The equivalent of a SENDCo at university is usually someone who works in Disability Services or Student Support Services. Their title can vary, but will usually contain the word ‘disability’, ‘wellbeing’ or ‘inclusion’, and ‘advisor’ or ‘adviser’, ‘coordinator’ or ‘officer’. Our Disability Team is made up of a Disability Services Manager and Learning Support Managers, Inclusion Mentors, Inclusion Advisers and Dyslexia Advisers at each campus. 

• School term(s): Education, Health & Care Plan (EHCP), Statement of Special Needs, Statutory Assessment, Pupil Profile, Individual
  Education Plan (IEP), Pupil Passport
• University term(s): Needs Assessment Report, Reasonable Adjustments Plan, Individual Learning Plan

The equivalent of an EHCP or Statement at university is called different things at different universities. Most universities will have some method of sharing information about support and adjustments with other colleagues, often with the word ‘support’, ‘reasonable adjustments’ or ‘plan’ in the title. If you apply for Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) you will have a Needs Assessment Report as part of the application process.

If you have an EHCP, we will discuss this with you and work with you to set up the support you require.

At UCA, you will complete an Individual Learning Plan with your Learning Support Manager. This plan can cover a range of reasonable adjustments for your access and learning needs and is communicated to key staff who need to know about them.

If you apply for Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) you will have a Needs Assessment Report as part of the application process.

Our mission is to encourage an inclusive environment that enables our students to develop their skills, knowledge and strategies to manage their own learning and to achieve their full potential through:

• Providing advice and co-ordinating support in relation to disabilities and specific learning differences, and
• Promoting independent study and contributing to the inclusivity debate within the University.

  Who are we?

• Learning Support Managers provide advice and co-ordinate support for disabled students.
• Dyslexia Advisers provide advice and co-ordinate support for students with dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties.
• Support roles include:
  • Learning Mentors provide assistance with planning, organising and coping with a course of study.
  • Learning Support Assistants provide in-studio assistance such as note taking and physical support with carrying and moving equipment.

What do we do?

• Offer pre-entry advice before you start on your course.
• Provide an initial assessment of your disability/specific learning difficulty support needs. Arrange diagnostic tests and formal needs assessments and provide advice on external funding sources for disability support such as Disabled Students Allowance.
• Provide support to students with short-term disabilities.
• Provide information, resources and advice about disabilities and specific learning difficulties to academic staff.
• Co-ordinate one to one support in the studio, for specialist study skills or mentoring including the opportunity to review this support on a regular basis or provide advice on alternative sources of support external to UCA.

What can we do for you on your behalf/our commitment

If you are accessing support, you will be issued with an Individual Learning Plan (ILP) which details your entitlements and support. This document is specific to you and is intended to provide the information you will need to manage your own learning.

If you have one to one support this will also be detailed in your ILP including what this support entails and how it works. It also provides the opportunity to discuss and understand the boundaries of support, ie. what the support staff can do, what they cannot do and what you should do if you are not happy with the support or have any concerns.

You will be expected to take responsibility for your own studies and any support. You will need to utilise the resources of your academic course and your agreed learning support effectively.

Reviews of your learning support will be available during the year at any point; however, you should raise any questions or concerns about your support with the Learning Support Manager or Dyslexia Adviser at the earliest possible opportunity.

What we cannot do/your commitment

Learning Support Managers and Dyslexia Advisers are responsible for on-course support only. We can offer some referral information about personal care support but we cannot offer advice or make arrangements for this type of care.

Our support is not a substitute for the teaching of your course’s academic team or self-managed study. Our support is to help you to access the learning opportunities at UCA. We assist you in developing skills and strategies specific to your individual needs so that you can work to your full potential.

You will be responsible for engaging with the Learning Support Manager/Dyslexia Adviser to facilitate and maintain all of your support needs.

How confidential is the service?

Please refer to the Academic Services Confidentiality Statement.

Complaints process

If you have any concerns about the service, we encourage you to speak to the Learning Support Manager. If you would like to make a formal complaint, please refer to UCA’s complaints procedure.

Personal care support refers to practical help and assistance you require in daily life, regardless of whether you are a student, and covers non-study related activities or tasks such as:

• Getting up, going to bed, or adjusting position overnight (and during the day)
• Washing/bathing and getting dressed
• Help with eating or administration of medication
• Using the toilet
• Domestic activities – cleaning your living area, shopping, preparing meals
• Leisure or extra-curricular activities
• Pushing wheelchairs
• Driving or helping you to get around outside study hours

You will be responsible for arranging your own personal care support while at university. 

Please contact the Disability & SpLD Service as soon as possible so we can find out more about what support you might need while studying 

Support available at UCA

The Disability & SpLD team will work with you to understand your requirements and what you might need to support your learning. This could include accessibility and on-course reasonable adjustments, external specialist support and access to specialist equipment and resources.

The University does not provide support or funding for personal care or medical treatment (including medication, medical supplies or mobility equipment) because you would need these things even if you were not a student. Travel costs to receive medical treatment are also your responsibility. Registering with a GP near your campus is also your responsibility and is essential. You will be provided with information about how to go about this.

If you do not make arrangements to put an independent living/personal care package in place before you join the University, we will not be able to put it in place for you. UCA will support you to defer your course until the care package is in place; this means that you can fully enjoy and participate in your student experience.

The University is keen to establish and build effective working relationships with external NMH suppliers to ensure and monitor the quality of support provided to our students. This guidance outlines key information NMH providers need to be aware of when working with UCA students.

Supporting students at UCA

As an external non-medical help provider you will need to:

• Contact the relevant campus Disability & SpLD staff to let them know about the student(s) you are supporting, as well as provide a named person within your organisation (including contact details) with whom we can liaise about any student support queries.
• Ensure funding is in place before commencing sessions with a student, monitor the use of allocated hours, and ensure that students do not run out of funding. UCA is not accountable for any payments that SFE refuse to pay.
• Notify the UCA Disability & SpLD Service if it is estimated that a student is going to exceed their Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) provision.
• Signpost the student back to their campus Disability & SpLD staff to discuss any issues relating to UCA’s services or their course.
• Contact the relevant campus Disability & SpLD service immediately if there are any concerns relating to engagement with support, learning, welfare, safety or academic progress.
• Provide copies of any relevant NMH provider policies on request, including those that help you to manage any potential risks to yourself and others.
• Provide a summary report for each student receiving Band 4 support, twice a year (December/January and May/June) by completing NMH Provider Feedback proforma.

Face-to-face support

Students will continue to be able to choose to have NMH sessions remotely if they wish without the need for any prior authorisation by SLC. All NMH providers should be able to provide remote or face to face NMH sessions, or a mixture of the two, as the student chooses. This means that NMH providers should ensure that for every student they take on, they are able to provide face to face as well as remote support should the student wish.

Where a student’s DSA2 recommends an external provider to provide NMHsupport in lectures or studio work (such as BSL interpretation, notetaking support, practical assistance) an individual risk assessment, including induction will be required and undertaken by the relevant campus Disability & SpLD service.

Room bookings for NMH support

NMH providers are responsible for arranging suitable meeting space to work with students. We expect that this space is agreeable to the student and meets their access needs.

The Disability & SpLD Service has a limited number of bookable private one-to-one spaces available on campus. We are unable to guarantee access to a bookable space to external NMH providers. However, we will always consider booking requests on a case-by-case basis.

Communication and feedback

Please contact the Learning Support Manager at [email protected] if you need to discuss anything about the student’s welfare, progress, or any other general concerns.

When emailing the Learning Support Manager about a particular student, please ensure you include the student’s name, their ID number and the type of support being provided.

Access to UCA for external NMH workers

• Travelling and visiting our campuses: Parking is very limited. Visitors are encouraged to use nearby public car parks. 
• Visitor’s badge: On arrival, please report to Reception where you will need to sign in and wear a visitor’s badge. You will need to return the badge when you sign out.
• Guest Wifi access: Visitors to UCA and those without Eduroam access from another institution can connect to Wifi via our Guest Network.

Health & Safety

COVID-19 restrictions were lifted on Friday 1 April 2022, however, to protect colleagues and students, please continue to stay away from our campuses if you have COVID-19 for a minimum of 5 days or until you feel better. Hand sanitising stations remain in place, so please use these and continue to follow good hygiene measures.

You will need to familiarise yourself with emergency procedures for the building (as displayed on building fire notices). In the event of hearing the emergency evacuation alarm, you must leave the building as directed and assemble at one of the designated Fire Points. It is your responsibility to let us know if you require a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) to be put in place.

Any accidents or emergencies need to be reported to Reception. For any incidents or near misses please report to Gateway.

Only enter areas that you're required to as part of your support work or are instructed to do so by a member of staff.

COVID measures

• Social distancing: Social distancing is no longer required but, as a matter of courtesy, please keep a safe distance from others, where possible.
• Face coverings: The wearing of face coverings inside our campus buildings is not mandatory, however, if you are able to, you are encouraged to wear a face covering when inside campus buildings.
• COVID-19 testing: Free COVID-19 test kits and the test collection from our libraries will no longer be available. There is no longer a legal requirement to self-isolate if you test positive for COVID-19. However, in line with government guidance, we ask that you do not come into campus if you test positive.
• Hygiene: The enhanced cleaning regimes remain, as do sanitising stations and wipes to clean shared equipment.

Other information

• Safeguarding Policy
• Data Protection Policy
• Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan
• Student Data Privacy Policy and Collection Notice
• Student Services Confidentiality Statement

The University for the Creative Arts aims to provide all students with an accessible learning experience to enable you to study independently.

As an International and EU student studying in the UK, you are not able to access UK government funding if you require additional support in relation to your disability.

However, under the terms of the Equality Act, the University has a duty of care to provide anticipatory and reasonable adjustments, aids and services that will support you during your studies.

What does ‘disabled’ mean?

In the UK, under the Equality Act 2010, a disabled person is defined as someone who has a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his, her or their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. The term covers a broad range of conditions, illnesses and impairments and includes the following:

• D/deaf or hearing impairment
• Visual impairment
• Physical disability or mobility impairment
• Specific learning difficulty (such as dyslexia or dyspraxia)
• Autism (ASD)
• Mental health condition
• Long term health/medical condition

This list is not exhaustive. If you think you may have a disability or specific learning difference, you should contact one of our Learning Support Managers before you start your studies with us.

This will help to ensure that your needs are fully understood and where necessary, any support required can be planned before you arrive.

There are limitations on the support we can offer to students, and you may be required to obtain funding for some or all of your support from your sponsor/parents, your home country government or charitable organisations.

Further information is available on the definition of disability on the GOV.UK website.

What can you expect?

The support you may receive is based on your disability and your requirements and may include the following (as well as other support services not listed):

Adaptations to your learning and living environments.

• We already provide some adaptations to our on-campus accommodation, including vibrating emergency alert systems and accessible flats adapted for wheelchair users.
• You may be required to provide your own specialist/adaptive equipment where we are unable to make adaptations to university buildings (for example hoists or other independence aids).
• You should consider the support you usually receive from friends and family at home, and who will provide this for you at university. You will need to be able to live independently as we cannot provide support with self-care and daily living tasks such as:
  • shopping
  • cooking
  • cleaning
  • laundry
  • personal care

Enhancing your Learning

• We are able to provide access to a wide range of staff who can help you to develop effective study and research strategies.
• We will offer some reasonable adjustments to help you access your studies. These will depend on your needs and the requirements of your course.
• We can loan certain equipment - for example, laptops equipped with assistive software/computer programmes and packages (subject to availability).

What specialist support is available?

You will need medical evidence to qualify for specialist support if your needs relate to a disability or long-term health condition. Your evidence needs to be translated into English by an official source before your arrival in the UK.

If you have dyslexia or any other specific learning difference, we will need diagnostic evidence that was conducted after your 16th birthday.

We can help you to obtain evidence once you are in the UK by:

• Providing you with advice and guidance on the evidence you will require.
• Signposting you to diagnostic professionals and where necessary, coordinate your appointment.

You are required to cover the cost of any diagnostic appointments and engage with the terms and conditions of the diagnostic service.

You are responsible for arranging and paying for a certified translation of any evidence and diagnostic report you already have in place, should this be required as evidence.

Our specialist team will work with you to understand your requirements and what you might need to support your learning based on the evidence you have provided. You will have an Individual Learning Plan (ILP) which outlines the on-course reasonable adjustments and specialist support provided to you.

This could include:

• Up to 15 hours one to one support (such as dyslexia tuition, mentoring). In exceptional circumstances and when supported by evidence of need this can be reviewed with a further 5 sessions offered in each year of study.
• Up to 5 hours per week of practical in-class room support, where required. This support will be provided on a shared basis (i.e., the support is shared with other students) and is dependent on staff availability. The University does not guarantee this support.
• Drop-in sessions are available to discuss support and help you develop your own learning strategies.

If you require your own practical support, we can assist you to source a support worker, but you would need to be able to cover the cost of this personally. We would encourage you to have this in place before you start your course.

The following services will require you to provide your own source of funding:

• Study support workers - for example, personal note-takers, readers, and mobility assistants
• Sign language interpreters

Equipment - for example, wheelchairs, computers, and brailling equipment

National Health Service (NHS)

As an overseas/EU student studying in the UK for six months or more, you will need to pay for UK healthcare as part of your immigration application; this is called immigration health surcharge and is in addition to the visa application fee.

The immigration health surcharge allows you access to UK healthcare at no additional cost. You will still need to pay for certain types of services such as prescriptions, dental treatment, eye tests and assisted conception.

You should register with a local doctor’s surgery (also known as general practitioner or GP) as soon as you can.