Best universities for disabled students
It can be hard to find the best university for you as a disabled student. Read our guide on what to look out for and how best to make the right choice for you.
CONTENTS
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Finding the best university for you
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Finding the best university as a disabled student
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Finding the best university as a student with autism
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Finding the best university as a student with ADHD
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Resources for disabled students
According to UCAS, nearly 40,000 students with a declared disability took up undergraduate places in 2016 and numbers have continued to climb ever since. Universities should be doing all they can to support disabled students and thanks to a greater awareness and more research, progress is being made. However, there’s some way to go to ensure inclusivity for all so doing your own research is key.
It can be daunting knowing where to start, here are a few pointers:
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Contact the disability support service at each university on your shortlist, describe your situation and ask what they can offer you. Think about extra-curricular activities as well as academic support
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Attend an open day/ virtual event or arrange a private visit with the disability coordinator – this will help you decide whether the uni suits your needs and how disability friendly the university city or town is too
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Read the university’s disability webpage, usually within the student services section. Check it acknowledges your condition and hasn’t mis grouped it with something else.
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Read the access guide – all universities should have one detailing their academic and social facilities. If you’re thinking about accommodation, check how accessible all the rooms are so you can socialise more easily
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Ask the university how many students currently attend with your condition, if it’s common, expect that to be reflected in their answer. The university may be able to put you in touch with individuals or groups so you can ask existing students about their experiences
Read more about university life for disabled students in our guide.
Universities are beginning to provide more support for students with autism, recognising the need for an individual and flexible approach. You will usually find some references to autism on most university disability webpages. An article written by Study International in 2018 highlighted University College London, University of Sheffield, University of Manchester, University of Sussex and University of Brighton as having particularly strong autism provision. While the article is not recent, it offers a good starting point for further research.
Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder or ADHD is thought to be a particularly under supported condition at university. This is partly because universities tend to miscategorise ADHD as a specific learning difficulty and only provide support for aspects of an ADHD picture such as dyslexia or dyspraxia. If you think you have ADHD or have been diagnosed with the condition, explore the university’s disability webpage and see if ADHD is listed as a condition. It’s also worth contacting the disability support service either by email or phone to ask specific questions you might have and to check if anyone within the team has had specific ADHD training.
AccessAble is an access resource with in-depth details on each university and the accessibility of its libraries, student union, lecture halls etc., including measurements of doorways, how heavy the doors are, where the disabled loos are and what side transfer they have.
#AttentionUK is a campaign to destigmatise and raise awareness of ADHD. It offers advice on university support for students in the UK and has carried out research into ADHD provision at some London Universities.
Casita, a student accommodation platform has an interesting blog written in 2021 on the best disability friendly universities in the UK, highlighting the University of Worcester, University of Leeds and Brunel University, London.
Diversity and Ability have created a guide to free resources that might help support disabled and neurodiverse students. There’s also a handy guide on accessing Disabled Student Allowance support.
Student Minds offer a Know Before You Go e-resource aimed at Year 12-13 students to help with the transition from school to university.
The Student Room has a forum for disabled students offering help and support on issues that affect them. A good place to find out what life is really like at various universities for disabled students.
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