This Disability History Month, we want to ensure you know where you can find help as a disabled student at Royal Holloway. Your Disabled Students Community Officer, Alana, has collated all the help available to you at Royal Holloway and nationally. Here is a quick rundown of Alana's findings!
This Disability History Month, we want to ensure you know where you can find help as a disabled student at Royal Holloway. Your Disabled Students Community Officer, Alana, has collated all the help available to you at Royal Holloway and nationally. Here is a quick rundown of Alana's findings!
Make sure you keep up with Alana’s work at @rhsu_disabled_community or contact her by email.
What is a Disability?
At the SU, we define a disability as a condition that has a substantial and long-term impact on a person’s ability to carry out day-to-day activities. This includes but is not limited to, visual impairments, hearing difficulties, physical or mobility issues, neurodivergence, learning disabilities, mental health problems, and other hidden disabilities.
Accessing the Disability & Neurodiversity Service
To access the Disability & Neurodiversity (D&N) service, you must first register with them by completing their disability registration form. The form asks how your disability affects your studies, any previous academic support you may have received, and to provide evidence of your disability. Once this information has been reviewed, you will be contacted to confirm what exam access arrangements and other support that has been considered for you.
How can they support you?
- Exam access arrangements (breaks, extra time and assistive technology)
- Reasonable adjustments (recording lecture permission, advanced access to course material, reading help etc.)
- Diagnosis assessments
- DSA application help and more
If you are living in, or have applied to live in halls, you may also request any accommodation adjustments to be considered, such as mobility adaptations and en-suite bathrooms.
Taking exams
Exam access arrangements (EEAs) can be made for students with a diagnosed disability, specific learning difficulty or temporary condition/illness. Applications for EEAs are made through the D&N registration form. Evidence of a diagnosed condition, or doctor's note, is required. Applications should be made as soon as possible at the start of the academic year and before the final deadline of 20 January 2024. D&N can be contacted for help with this application using the email and phone number below.
To contact the team, email disability@royalholloway.ac.uk or phone 01784 414621. Their offices are located in FE153 (Founder's East). And, don't forget confidential disability drop-in sessions are held during term time from 11am-2pm on weekdays, both online and in person.
Useful links
Exam Access Arrangements
How we can support you
Registering your disability
Applying for the Disabled Student Allowance
If you have a disability or specific learning condition that affects your study and are also an undergraduate or postgraduate student, you are eligible for Disabled Student Allowance (DSA) support. Unfortunately, students who are not ordinarily residents of England cannot access the DSA. To be approved, you must provide medical evidence; this can include a letter or report from your doctor, a diagnostic assessment, or the DSA disability evidence form.
Part-time students may not be able to access the same amount of support, depending on how long your course takes to complete compared to an ordinary course.
How to apply
For full-time undergraduate students, DSA applications can be made through the Student Finance England website, under the Disabled Students Allowance application tab. Applications can be made at any point during the academic year, however, the sooner you apply, the quicker you will be able to access support.
All equipment and support are assessed on an individual basis, meaning your support package can be tailored to your specific needs.