All students with a disability should sign up for open days at the universities they’re interested in attending because they will be able to ask questions and raise concerns.
“You can garner a lot more from an open day than you can from a website,” says Rebecca Hollington, recruitment, events and prospects manager at Southampton Solent University.
“Students need to ensure that the university they have chosen is the kind of environment they want to study in. Plus they will be able to talk to academics and to current students about what will happen when they get to university.”
Universities try to be as supportive and inclusive of people with disabilities as possible. Most buildings are accessible to wheelchair users and those with mobility problems, and signage has improved. Buildings should have ramps and, if they contain more than one floor, there should be lifts that can take a wheelchair.
Like other universities, Southampton Solent encourages students to sign up for open days using the online booking form. If you have a disability and are interested in a room in a hall of residence, the university arranges for you to see a room with disabled access.
If you are visually or hearing impaired, audio loops and sign language interpreters are provided on open days to help students understand the talks and the campus tours. They are also laid on for students when they are studying at the university.
Moreover, if you want to talk to someone about the kind of support available for you at university, you can do that at the open day.
Most universities are geared up to help with a wide range of disabilities – from dyslexia to Asperger syndrome to cerebral palsy. Many employ special teams to look after students with disabilities who will arrange, for example, for assisted technology or for people such as notetakers and library support assistants to give assistance to those who need it when at university.
Bath Spa University’s main campus includes a castle. Most of it is accessible to students with disabilities, but the castle isn’t. “If we have a student who needs wheelchair access, we will always change the timetable to make sure a subject is not timetabled there,” says Sara Gallagher, Bath Spa’s student support manager.
David Seaton, head of student recruitment at the University of Bedfordshire, says the university offers a dedicated member of staff to each disabled person on the open day. “We make sure that they have the same open day experience as any other visitor to the campus,” he says.
At University of Northampton open days, advice is given about disabled student allowances and how students can apply for them.
‘At the open day I spoke to the lecturers about the support I would get’
Husamettin Kocaturkmen, 23, is visually impaired and has this year achieved a first-class degree in international tourism management at Southampton Solent University.
I’m originally from Turkey and my parents live in Cumbria where they run a fish and chip shop.
When I came to this country I didn’t speak a word of English. I learned the language at school, but unfortunately didn’t do very well at my GCSEs. However, I did well in my BTec travel and tourism at Carlisle College, graduating with a distinction.
After doing so well I decided to apply to university. I chose Southampton Solent because of its brilliant location and attended the open day. I spoke to the lecturers about the support I would get and they were very accommodating.
I have difficulty reading anything in small print and the university was extremely helpful. From day one I had a notetaker to help me in lectures and seminars, and someone to help me with assignments and project work in the library, 9am to 5pm, three to four days a week.
I am now hoping to study for a PGCE because I would like to become a lecturer in travel and tourism in a further education college.”
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