Student Support Agreement
Information for students with a disability
If a student has a disability/specific learning
difficulty (SpLD) that affects their academic
studies they will need to have a Student Support Agreement
(
SSA
) set up.
Meeting the Disability Officer
The student will need to meet with the Disability Officer, so they can discuss
how the disability may affect their studies. If the
student has already disclosed their disability on their
application form, the Disability Officer will try to make
contact as soon as the application is processed.
It is advisable for the student to meet with
the Disability Officer as soon as possible – either in the first
week of arriving at the College or before. If the student has a
SpLD, such as dyslexia, they will need to provide
up-to-date written evidence of this which indicates its effect on
academic study (see Disability FAQs for
more information).
Informing relevant staff
From the discussion and the information contained in the
disability documentation the Disability Officer can assess for any
necessary reasonable adjustments/accommodations for the
student's studies. The
SSA
is then completed. It
gives the student's contact information, course details,
the nature of the disability and details of the support
and adjustments agreed.
A copy of the
SSA
and diagnostic report will
only be circulated to relevant staff if the
student formally consents to this. Typically, the Disability
Officer will send the SSA to faculty Registry (who
coordinate special exam arrangements), the student's lecturers
and Academic Advisor/Personal Tutor (if the student has one)
and International Partnerships Office (where
applicable).
A copy is sent to the Head of Student Support
for students in BAM faculty. The Disability Officer will
notify Library and Careers & Business Relations staff as
necessary.
Reviewing a student's needs
After a student's first semester, the Disability Officer
will make contact and offer an appointment to review the
SSA
and check
that the student's needs are being met. All discussions
will be treated as confidential.
Feedback received from a postgraduate
student, Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social
Sciences:
‘The accommodations I received from lecturers
during my MA programme in International Relations were supportive
throughout my studies at the college. Due to the physical nature of
my disability, I was unable to participate in certain course
requirements and so appropriate alternative arrangements were made,
with the agreement of the Programme Director. By
communicating my disability needs to the Disability Officer, the
process of having to approach each individual lecturer to explain
the details of my condition was simplified and reduced a lot of
stress. The Disability Officer provided excellent attention
regarding any matter that came up throughout my course. She was
always available for a chat to discuss any issues, and promptly
handled my needs with great compassion and professionalism which
was incredibly helpful’.
Feedback received from an international exchange student,
Faculty of Business and Management:
‘I really liked this school. My semester here
has been great and I really appreciated all that has been done for
me considering my eyesight problems. The staff and the teachers
knew my problem and were very helpful.'
Page last updated 12/6/2011