The issues highlighted in this section apply to everyone choosing a university. However, if you have a disability, there may be additional issues to take into account or more in depth questions to ask. These are some of the most important ones:
► Location
If you have mobility difficulties and decide to live away from home, a campus university, with all facilities on site may make life easier. You will still need to check how far your accommodation might be from lecture theatres, seminar rooms, labs, libraries and other buildings such as the student Union. You should also check out transport facilities, especially if you decide against a campus university and opt for a split
site or city centre university.
► Accommodation
Go to the ‘Student Accommodation’ section in the ‘Higher Education’ section for more information.
► Physical Accessibility
Before you apply, find out if the buildings and facilities you need to use are accessible. The buildings you may need to consider include the student
union, bars, canteens, libraries, computer rooms, sporting facilities as well as teaching rooms. If you are hard of hearing, you may need to check if lecture halls and other teaching rooms have induction loops. Disability parking, appropriate lighting and good sign posting should be taken into account if the access is not quite right, you should discuss with the disability co-ordinator. From September 2005, all HE institutions will be required to make reasonable adjustments to premises to enable disabled students to access facilities.
► Disability Support
It is important to contact the disability adviser/co-ordinator to discuss how your individual needs can be met. The Disability Discrimination Act applies to all HE institutions, but there are differences in the types of support for students with particular types of disability. The Skill publication, ‘Into Higher Education 2004’ provides contact details and brief disability statements for individual universities. These should also be published on institution websites.
► Questions to ask on a visit
Not all of these will be relevant for every student. Select the ones appropriate to you.
Physical Accessibility
• Is the town accessible?
• Is the campus accessible? For example, is there a campus minibus?
• Which buildings are accessible? For example, where are wheelchair ramps, accessible lifts and toilets, and stair lifts?
Buildings you might use include:
• halls of residence and other accommodation,
• the students’ union and bars
• the library
• sports facilities
• lecture theatres
• various departmental rooms
Studying
How can your individual study needs be met?
• extra time in examinations
• a separate room to take examinations
• permission to use a computer in examinations
• flexibility in deadlines for essays
• Braille facilities
• a volunteer reader scheme
• sign language interpreters
• note takers in lectures
• lecture notes
• lecture notes and course materials in alternative formats
• accessible work placements or field trips
• induction loops
• study support tutors
Other Support Facilities
• What other support is available?
• Is there a university health service or do you register with local GPs?
• You may need counselling support. What are the counselling services like? How accessible are they?
• With some disabilities, such as chronic fatigue syndrome, you may need to go somewhere quiet to rest. Is there a room at the institute you could
use?
• Can someone help with your claim for the Disabled Student’s Allowances?
More help4u:
Direct Gov website - For more Information on disabled student allowances
