Dyslexia, Disability & Health Support

• Support disabled students (including those with SpLD) to achieve their qualifications.
• Raise awareness and understanding of the challenges experienced by disabled students (including those with SpLDs) at university.
• Provide advice and guidance about the services, facilities and opportunities available to you as a student with a disability or an SpLD.
• Liaise with staff across the College and beyond to ensure a collaborative, inclusive approach to working with you.
• Help students to develop learning strategies that maximise their strengths and minimise areas of difficulty.
• Offer advice to academic staff on strategies for inclusive teaching.

We expect students to take responsibility for their own life while at DGHE and encourage a model of self-advocacy. It is important that students work towards understanding their disability, strengths, needs, challenges and what works best for them while at college. A range of support is available at the College, and staff are trained to encourage and promote student independence.

• We offer confidential Drop-ins and Appointments to talk through any queries or support you may need.
• Support in applying for Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSA) and follow up to make sure everything runs smoothly once you have this.
• Support with accessing assistive technology and software.
• Liaise with college staff about student needs.
• Advice on examination adjustments.
• Advice on the provision of support in the library.
• Production of a Learning Support Agreement (LSA) to communicate your needs to relevant members of staff.

• A friendly, welcoming and professional service with experienced staff
• Free and confidential advice and guidance
• One point in the college where you can discuss all your disability and education-related needs
• Support to develop and review individual learning goals.

Consent to share

Any information you disclose or share will be held by the College and shared only to relevant individuals and services. The purpose of sharing information is to ensure that necessary support and adjustments are in place during your studies.

The College operates a confidentiality policy, and information will be passed on appropriately and only with consent. There may be rare circumstances where information about students is disclosed without consent, for example, if there are serious concerns or risks to you or others. The College works within the Data Protection Act (2018) guidelines.

You can withdraw your consent at any time by notifying relevant services. If you do not consent to information being held and shared, the College may not be able to support your requirements fully.

DGHE information and policies regarding confidentiality can be found on the AWS section of the website under What you Can Expect and Confidentiality Statement.

Our staff is committed to ensuring impartiality and equality of opportunity in the delivery of our services. The College has an active Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Working Group with student representatives and staff from every department in the college participating.

Our commitment to EDI principles is demonstrated in our Policies and our Vision, Mission and Values statement.

We encourage you to give us feedback so we can review our practices and improve our service. Please contact us if you have any comments or suggestions.

Although it is in an old building, the College is accessible to most students, with the entry-level lift to the Reception, Lecture Theatre (with inclusive seating space in the Lecture theatre for wheelchair users) and the student canteens, lift access to Classrooms, and Student Services (including Careers, Library, Advice and Wellbeing Services. Accessible toilets are on each floor, and there is an accessible shower space on the lower ground floor via a lift.

Take a Virtual Tour of the building

The Advice and Wellbeing Service offer information, advice and guidance for Disabled Students.

Any enquiries or queries or Reports/Needs Assessments can be forwarded to the Head of Student Experience and Wellbeing, Ms Fiona Nouri. Information about the courses and course structures can be found here on the College’s main website. Specific information about Disabled Parking in the City of London. There is no parking immediately outside the college but some in the adjoining streets. Specific information on Disabilities at DGHE can be found in the last section: +Support Available at DGHE for Disabled/SpLD students.

DGHE preferred Specialist Tuition Provider:

Ash Phipps
Independent Specialist Study Skills Support provider
MA SpLDs, AMBDA
PATOSS IF7093
Association of NMH Providers
ICO ZA305043

Email: ashphipps@icloud.com

Mobile: 07896 227 817

£65 per hour, flat rate, no VAT

DGHE preferred Specialist Mentoring Provider:

UMO Mentoring

We offer

• Advice about getting the relevant medical evidence
• Advice on obtaining Non-Medical helpers e.g. Note takers/BSL interpreters, LSAs and Specialist Mentors
• PEEPs (Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans)
• Risk Assessments

The support we provide depends on the nature of your course and whether you are a UK, EU or international student. The types of services we offer depend on your individual needs and must be related to your disability and how this affects you in an educational setting.

We can support you to:

• Liaise with University staff about your needs
• Apply for Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSA) and other Disability related, educational funding
• Arrange a Study Needs Assessment and a Learning Support Agreement (LSA)
• Advise about the support provided by note-takers, library assistants, BSL interpreters etc.
  Discuss reasonable adjustments you may need on your course and for assessments/exams

Check your eligibility for DSA: The Equality Act (2010) defines disability as a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on the ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities, where long-term is considered to be 12 months or more.

Not eligible for DSA but have a condition that affects you substantially? Contact Disabilities for an informal chat about how we can support you.

We will require medical evidence in order to provide you with services – if you have a suitable report please send a copy to us by email to Disabilities. If you do not have any medical evidence, you will need to contact your GP or consultant. You can use this medical information request form

Eligible (UK) students will also need to apply for Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSA) funding as soon as possible. You will need to send a copy of your evidence to your relevant student funding body with your application.

Depending on where you live you need to send your evidence to one of the following:

• Student Finance England (SFE)
• Student Finance Wales (SFW)
• Student Award Agency Scotland (SAAS)
• Student Finance Northern Ireland (SFNI)

It can take up to four months from beginning the application process with the DSA, so there is a real benefit in contacting us in advance of arriving – it means we can get things put in place for you earlier so you can start College will all your support agreed and in place.
The services we provide are confidential. If you would like to arrange an appointment to see or talk to someone prior to starting at DGHE contact Disabilities.

What are dyslexia/dyspraxia and SpLD?

Not sure if you have a Learning Difference? Have a look at these quick checklists.

We offer:

• Free On-line Screening for Specific Learning Differences (dyslexia/dyspraxia)
• Help in applying for funding towards the cost of a diagnostic assessment
• Assistance with arranging a diagnostic assessment
• Follow-up discussion and explanation of the diagnostic report
• Advice about SpLD Specialist Teaching

You need to have evidence of your diagnosis. This is usually a report that is:

• Written by an Educational Psychologist or Specialist Assessor.

If you have a suitable report, it is useful for you to send a copy to us by email to Disabilities.

You will also need to apply for Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSA) funding as soon as possible. You will need to send a copy of your evidence to your relevant student funding body with your application. You can do this before your course starts.

Applying for funding and accessing support can take up to 4 months, so the sooner you get started, the better.

Depending on where you live, you need to send your evidence to one of the following:

• Student Finance England (SFE)
• Student Finance Wales (SFW)
• Student Award Agency Scotland (SAAS)
• Student Finance Northern Ireland (SFNI)

You can arrange an assessment independently before you arrive at College. If you do this, you will be able to access support on your course much sooner. However, you will need to pay for the assessment in full yourself.

You can contact the College’s preferred Assessor directly: Dr Vivien Newman: vivnewman@hotmail.com 07779 592 665 (PATOSS Assessor Practising Certificate Number: 50000107-3383). Expect to pay between £275 and £325 depending on the type of Assessment. Further information about SpLD assessments can be found on the British Dyslexia Association site.

Students not eligible for DSA should speak with the AWS team, who can assist with advice and help you apply for funding towards costs of reasonable adjustments (such as specialist software/specialist tuition).

You may only discover you have an SpLD once you have started your course.

What is dyslexia/dyspraxia and SpLD?

Not sure if you have a Learning Difference? Have a look at these quick checklists

Students who suspect they may have a Specific earning Difference (SpLD) such as dyslexia/dyspraxia/ADHD may request a free Screening via the Advice and Wellbeing Service (AWS). If the screening indicates a high probability of SpLD you may be referred for a full Diagnostic Assessment in order to apply for the DSA. The full cost of the Assessment with the college’s preferred Assessor is £325. If you have difficulty meeting the full cost you may be eligible to apply for assistance with the cost of up to a maximum of £225.

If you think you may have an SpLD make an appointment with Disabilities to discuss your options.

Please note: if you seek an independent assessment before your course, you cannot apply for college funds. However, be aware that if you decide to put off going for a full assessment until after you arrive in the hope that you may be eligible for funding, it is unlikely that you will have any support in place before Christmas due to the length of time it takes to go through the whole process.

If you have any questions about this process, please get in touch with us to ask for further advice.

The Advice and Wellbeing Service (AWS) coordinates a wide range of support strategies based on your individual needs. We take into consideration the recommendations made in your medical evidence / Diagnostic report and DSA/in-house Needs Assessment report. Once permission to disclose has been given (and evidence has been provided), we create an individual support plan, called a Learning Support Agreement (LSA). This information is then shared with your department and relevant staff (e.g. for assessment/exam adjustments etc.)

Learning Support Agreement (LSA)

Once received, your medical and diagnostic evidence information is held by the AWS, and only viewed by staff working within AWS. Your support needs will not be discussed with others until you sign a disclosure form.
Once permission to disclose has been given (and evidence has been provided), we create an individual support plan, called a Learning Support Agreement (LSA). The LSA is a document that lists adjustments that the College deems reasonable for a department to make in order for you to best demonstrate your academic ability. This information is then shared with your department and relevant staff (e.g. for assessment/exam adjustments etc.)

Many of the adjustments are considered best practices and staff may already be implementing them. In addition, the list created on the LSA is not comprehensive and staff may like to discuss with you and your tutor the best ways they can support you directly.

Your LSA will be emailed to you by AWS. Please check your LSA to make sure that you are receiving the adjustments that you are entitled to.

Specialist tuition for students with Specific Learning Differences (SpLD)

Specialist tuition is for students with Specific Learning Differences (SpLD) such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia and AD(H)D who have received funding via the Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSA) for specialist support. Tuition is not intended to give students with SpLD an advantage over their peers, rather the provision should address the differences which are due to your SpLD to enable you to achieve your full academic potential whilst studying at DGHE.

Students are taught on a one-to-one basis. Where this is recommended, the sessions are developed in agreement with the student, taking into consideration the specific learning strengths and needs outlined in both the Diagnostic report and the DSA Needs Assessment report. Tuition sessions are usually weekly for one hour per week. The purpose of specialist teaching is to support students to develop independent study skills.

The main roles of the tutor are to:

• Support students with SpLD to achieve their qualifications
• Teach students to develop learning strategies that maximise their strengths and minimise areas of difficulty, so that they become independent autonomous learners
• Help students to recognise both their learning strengths and weaknesses, and put strategies in place to overcome the latter
  Where appropriate, liaise with academic staff, together with the student, to work more effectively as a team supporting differences in learning

Note:Students not eligible for DSA should speak with the AWS team who can assist with advice and help you apply for funding towards costs of reasonable adjustments (such as specialist software/some specialist tuition). The college offers inclusive Study Skills sessions for all students.

Specialist Mentoring for disabled students

Specialist Mentoring is for students with Autistic Spectrum conditions, mental health and long-term health conditions who have received funding via the Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSA) for specialist support. The provision should address any difficulties which are due to your disability, to help you achieve your full academic potential whilst studying at DGHE.

Mentoring sessions are carried out on a one-to-one basis and the sessions are developed in agreement with the student, taking into consideration the specific learning strengths and needs outlined in both the Diagnostic report and the DSA Needs Assessment report. Mentoring sessions are usually weekly for one hour per week. Some students may require more support at the start of their course to aid with the transition to Higher Education. Specialist Mentoring is part of a package of services and should encourage students to develop independence and self-confidence.

The main roles of the mentor are to:

• Support students with ASD, Mental Health and long-term health conditions to achieve their qualifications
• Ensure that students manage their academic workload within the context of their condition
• Provide general support which encourages autonomy and self-management, enabling the student to become more independent, confident in their work and to ultimately have a more successful university experience
• Mentors are appointed to assist students with gaining access to their studies, their college environment and life on campus

If you have been recommended Specialist Mentoring in your Needs Assessment report, and you feel this would be useful for you, please contact Disabilities to discuss this further.

Note: Students not eligible for DSA should speak with the AWS team who can assist with advice and help you apply for funding towards costs of reasonable adjustments (such as specialist software/some specialist tuition).

Assessment and Exam adjustments

Most students at DGHE are examined via summative Assessments/Projects.

All students are strongly encouraged to plan ahead and try to complete work on time. Take full advantage of the Study Skills sessions offered. If you have specialist one-to-one tuition, they will help you plan and manage your work in order to hand it in on time. If you are worried that you will miss a deadline, you can apply for an extension using the Mitigating Circumstances Form on the VLE. If additional time for coursework is on your Learning Support Agreement (LSA), you can give this as the reason.

We can make recommendations for adjustments in exams and in-class tests based on a disability-related need, such as:

• Extra time
• Rest breaks
• Shared, separate room
• Individual room
• Use of a computer and/or software
• Access to a Reader and/or Scribe

Your exam adjustments will be outlined in your Learning Support Agreement (LSA). Please contact Disabilities if you think you should have an LSA.

Employability

DGHE has a great Careers Service working collaboratively with the Advice and Wellbeing Service (AWS) to support graduating students into the workplace or students who are in work while at College.

If you are working while you are a student or afterwards, you may still be able to get some support via the government’s Access to Work Scheme (AtW). The scheme provides financial and practical assistance for eligible people who have a disability to assist them in both obtaining work or carrying out their work. The scheme will either pay for or make a grant towards the cost of additional support needed as a result of a disability.