Support at Brunel
Support at Brunel
At university there are two main types of support for disabled students: general support that the university offers and the more individual support that comes with Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSA). First, here’s a run down of how Brunel supports you:
Brunel’s campus
A £250 million investment in Brunel’s campus has seen massive changes in the university’s physical environment over the last few years, and the needs of disabled students have played an important part in this development. We now have an impressive range of academic and teaching areas, social spaces and accommodation accessible to students with mobility difficulties.
Accommodation
As a disabled student you can apply for a room that meets your individual needs - en-suite, centrally located, wheelchair-accessible or equipped for those with a hearing impairment; other adaptations can be made to rooms if necessary. All these rooms are allocated fairly, according to need. View the Accommodation Office's information for prospective disabled students wishing to live on campus.
In addition, some disabled students would be at a substantial disadvantage if they weren’t able to stay on campus after their first year, and all such cases are considered fairly.
Parking
There are loads of designated bays all over the campus for blue badge holders. If you don’t have a blue badge but need to park on campus because of a disability, we can arrange a vehicle permit for you even if you live within two miles of the university. We can also arrange free car parking for personal assistants.
Coursework extensions
Brunel encourages all students to plan their time and meet deadlines – otherwise things get out of control and work can pile up. However, sometimes, for reasons outside your control, you may find it impossible to meet a deadline.
If this happens you need to contact your academic department and fill in a ‘mitigating circumstances form’. If the reason is related to your disability, the Disability and Dyslexia Service can write a letter to support your case.
Exams and other assessments
Exams should be a fair test of your knowledge and what you’re able to do. For some disabled students, the usual exam format may not be suitable and, if this is the case, adjustments can be made. These adjustments aren’t designed to make exams easier, or to give disabled students a head start; they just level the playing field by allowing you to show what you can do without being disabled by the assessment format itself.
Typical adjustments might be:
- extra time (usually 25% but can be more)
- rest breaks
- personal time reminders
- exam papers in different formats (enlarged font, coloured paper, electronic copy)
- use of computer, software and/or hardware
- separate room
- use of a scribe or reader
To make sure we’re being fair, we always ask for evidence of a disability before making exam adjustments.
Lectures
Lectures and seminars are an important part of learning at university, but many disabled students struggle to make the most of them.
You may have difficulty with physically writing notes, or you may struggle to remember what’s being said for long enough to write it down, or maybe you make lots of notes but can’t read them back afterwards. There’s something that can be done to make sure you don’t miss out.
Support might include:
- lecture handouts provided in advance of lectures (where not available through u-Link)
- use of a recording device
- use of a portable note taking device
- use of a note-taker
- use of a sign language interpreter
- transcription of audio material used in sessions.
Assistive technology
The Assistive Technology Centre (ATC) has up-to-date specialist technology to help with your studies. This includes:
- mind mapping - software that helps you plan essays and revise for exams
- text to speech - software and headphones so that you can listen to electronic text read aloud
- scanners – to convert print into electronic text, which can then be listened to
- screen reading - software which reads out the whole screen
- screen magnification - software which expands a part of the screen so it can be seen more easily
- CCTV magnifiers - which display enlarged images of books
- ergonomic equipment - such as ergonomic chairs, keyboards, mice and adjustable desks
- speech to text - software that writes down what you say<
- loan equipment - such as voice recorders and back supports that you can use while you’re waiting for your DSA.
The ATC offers training and support in how to use this equipment and will also help with standard IT tasks, such as saving files, using Microsoft Word and browsing the internet.
Library
The library supports disabled students by:
- giving one-to-one help with using the library
- arranging extended loans
- photocopying items for you to collect from the issue desk (online requests)
- collecting books for you to pick up the next day (online requests)
- loaning reference books (in exceptional circumstances)
- loading coloured paper into the photocopier for you
- allowing you to authorise someone else to borrow items on your behalf
- You can contact the library in person, by phone, by email or via the web.
Placements
Some students may find some placements difficult because of their disability. The university’s placement office can arrange support so it’s a good idea to think about this in advance.
There are lots of adjustments that can be made on placement so talk it through with us, or with your personal tutor, and the placement office before you go on placement to make sure you’re supported.
