As a student with a disability, you may already be in the process of claiming some of the various funds and assistance available to help you with your degree. Some students are unclear on what help is available to them; others may not realise that they are entitled to help. Here, we highlight some of the disabilities and for what you may be qualified.
What help you will get depends on your type of disability or disabilities. Broadly, the following qualify.
Physical Disabilities
If you are in a wheelchair or use other walking aids, you may be entitled to mobility allowance. This could include DLA fund towards transport costs so that you are able to attend lectures, get to the library outside of term time and so on.
As a blind or deaf student, you will be entitled to specialist equipment to aid your education. This may include discounted or free technology such as laptops, tablets and software such as screen readers. It is also worth enquiring about specialist funds for your particular physical condition. Gardners Trust for the blind and partially sighted provides funds for equipment for education. RNID is a useful source for deaf or hard of hearing students.
Invisible Disabilities
The type of disability you have depends on what help you get. Invisible disabilities rarely create a physical impairment, but they do qualify as disabilities. Conditions such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia create very different barriers to those who have the conditions. Students living with learning difficulties may be entitled to financial help for equipment and learning aids, but it’s important to realise that other help is available here.
Students with learning difficulties will often be entitled to extra time for essays and exams, and allowances made on grammar, spelling and sentence structure in written material. These issues will need to be discussed with the university’s disability advisor and relevant faculty.
Mental Illness
Although we identify mental health issues as illnesses rather than disabilities, like the invisible disabilities mentioned above, you are entitled to help. They are recognised as disabilities for the sake of classification. Mental illnesses create a unique set of difficulties around memory, processing and even motivation. In order to qualify for DSA (Disability Students’ Allowance) you will have to prove long-term mental illness that affects your ability to perform.
Help that students with mental illnesses may be entitled to include laptops and tablets but only if DSA defines it necessary for your condition. Typically, students with mental illness will receive travel costs for getting to therapy and treatment sessions, and for non-medical assistance.
If You’re Unsure
Even if you don’t feel your condition impedes your ability to attend lectures, concentrate or perform academically, it is always worth checking with the relevant disability authorities on campus and referring to DSA advice. Pursue every possible avenue as you may be entitled to help.