Other disabilities and long-term medical conditions
If you have long term medical issues that may affect your studies or your university experience you can get support from the disability and dyslexia team.
Conditions that may be considered a disability under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) include: diabetes, epilepsy, cystic fibrosis, cancer, HIV, chronic fatigue syndrome and irritable bowel syndrome.
You may still be considered disabled even if your illness or medical condition does not affect your life much now, but is likely to in future. An example of this would be if you had recently been diagnosed with a degenerative condition, such as multiple sclerosis.
Support available
The disability team will work with you to find out how they can help. Support may include:
- advice and guidance for you and your department about the impact of your disability on various study tasks, and how to accommodate this
- help from note-takers, interpreters, communicators, lip-speakers, audio-typists and mentors
- information about and help applying for Disabled Students' Allowances
- examination/assessment recommendations - such as extra time, rest breaks, or the use of a scribe or computer. Read more about exams and assessments
- the loan of equipment, such as recording devices / computer equipment or assistive software
- ergonomic aids, such as chairs or book stands
- additional travel expenses
- helping you arrange personal care support (eg washing, shopping, cooking)
- advice on parking – blue badge and other.
Your support officer will be available throughout your course to help you and your department.
While the team and your department will work to support you, it's important that you participate in the support to get the most out of it. And if your support requirements change at any time, it is important that you let us know.
Where possible, usually before the start of your course, you will be offered a chance to meet a member of the support team. This meeting gives you both a chance to discuss your specific needs relating to university and your course. If you have not worked with a support worker in an educational setting before, this meeting will help you understand the support worker's role.
Find out more
To find out more contact the team administrator.
