Our service supports students who have a long-term condition which significantly impacts their studies. Examples of this include:

• Social and communication difficulties e.g. ASC
• Visual impairment
• Hearing impairment
• Long term health condition e.g. diabetes, chronic fatigue
• Mental health difficulties e.g. anxiety and depression
• Specific Learning Differences e.g. dyslexia
• Mobility difficulties

Have a chat with a member of our team. We’ll be able to talk to you about your concerns and provide advice. It’s up to you whether you decide to share details of your disability/condition, declaring a disability will not affect the University’s decision to offer you a place or jeopardise your place on a course you’re already on, other than in very specific sets of circumstances on professional courses where strict competency standards are required to be met. Examples may include: Medicine; Paramedic Science; Teaching courses. This list is not exhaustive and if you are unsure, we can support you to speak with a member of the relevant academic team.

That depends on the course you’re doing and who you provide consent for us to share your information with. Usually, we would recommend that course tutors be made aware through a Student Support Plan, but it may also be beneficial for other professionals to have an overview of the agreed support, such as the Exams Team. It can sometimes be beneficial for DST to be able to speak to external agencies such as your funding body on your behalf. A Disability Adviser will go through all of this when you have an initial appointment with them.

To find out about the support that could be available to you throughout your studies.  

The Disability Support Team provide support, advice and guidance for students and applicants who have a long-term health, mental health, neurodiversity, hearing and/or visual impairment, mobility issue or specific learning difference.

We work with students to create a bespoke support plan. The Student Support Plan will make recommendations and provide information about your learning support requirements to academic staff.

Once you have registered as a student with University of Sunderland, you can request an online initial screening for dyslexia and other Specific Learning Differences such as dyspraxia. If the screening indicates that it is likely you have an SpLD then we can arrange a psychologist’s assessment to formally assess you. Please note that due to time constraints, the latest point in your studies that a diagnostic assessment can be arranged is the first term of your final year of study.

No – we would recommend that you speak to your GP if you suspect that you may have an undiagnosed condition. They will be able to advise you about the assessment process and waiting times.

• DSA is funding for equipment or support to help eligible students with different aspects of their university studies.
• If you are awarded DSA from your funding body, it is not given as a cash payment, but arrangements are made for you to access a range of different kinds of support which are considered reasonable for your needs.
• Support can include study skills sessions, computer equipment, assistive software, mentoring or any other support recommended by your ‘Needs Assessor.’
• An application for DSA can be made at the same time as your application for student finance, or at any point during your course, but it is important to note that the earlier support is put in place the more advantageous it will be, and there is a cut-off point if you are in your final year.
• The standard form is extremely simple to complete, but we are more than happy to help with applications. There is further, more detailed information about DSA

• Students who have a long-term medical condition, mental health condition, or diagnosis of specific learning difference such as dyslexia, or neurodiversity such as autism, should be eligible for DSA. Unfortunately, international students not funded by a UK body are not eligible, but for these students alternative support is available, please contact us for more information.
• For further information on DSA eligibility

• Parking is free for council blue badge holders, just register your vehicle https://parkingpermit.sunderland.ac.uk/ then display the council blue badge. No need to pay at the machine.

• You should initially reach out to the module leader and discuss your concerns as well as making an appointment with a disability adviser. If you have a support plan in place but you feel your disability has worsened, contact us and we can discuss amendments to your plan.
• If you choose to sit an exam or submit an assignment you are agreeing that you are ‘Fit to Sit’ (add link to policy) so it is important to make sure you are happy with the support which has been put in place for you.
• If your circumstances have become exceptionally difficult and are beyond your control, eg. sudden illness, bereavement, family issues, you can apply for extenuating circumstances (link to EC policy), and this will give you a longer period to complete your work.

There is an online form to complete, and you will need to submit evidence. It is always a good idea to talk with your module leader if you are considering applying for extenuating circumstances.

Sometimes a medical condition may mean that meeting a deadline for a module, even with the best of intentions, cannot be met. If you have a student support plan in place, then you can negotiate an extension with your academic department staff. Having the support plan allows tutors to agree to extensions beyond the standard limit if there is a disability related justification. In some circumstances, where study has become completely unfeasible for a longer length of time, it may be that the student should apply for extenuating circumstances.

In your meeting with a disability adviser, you can discuss whether this is a reasonable adjustment based on your particular medical condition. Very often students may have had extra time in exams previously, such as in college or school. Once you have agreed this with your adviser, they will include this on your student support plan and the exams office will be informed. Please note that there are certain types of exam for which extra time cannot be given due to meeting competency standards. Your subject department will have more information on this or speak to the disability adviser. Please note that we require 4 weeks’ notice to allow us to put the accommodations in place.

You can get support if you come to us. If you are 18, you won’t be able to claim DSA support unless you have been a resident and lived in the UK for at least 7 years and have attended some form of British education. If you are over 18, you must have lived in the UK for at least 20 years, or at least half of your life, to be able to claim DSA. However, you should still come to see us even if you are not a UK resident; we can still help. There may be other sources of funding or available resources which can support you and you can still have a student support plan to request reasonable adjustments.

It is never too late to contact us, but clearly the earlier you do so, the better.

There will come a point if you are in your final year where we can no longer offer SpLD assessments as by the time you receive the report, you will have completed your degree programme. Similarly, if it is the final term of your final year, any DSA applications may not be processed until it is too late. However, there can sometimes be actions we can take to support you if you get a late diagnosis of a condition and we would certainly put together a student support plan at any point in the course.

A temporary illness or injury is not classed as a disability unless it is long term (12 months or more) and so you would need to speak to your course leader about any temporary adjustments required and contact us if the illness is looking like it may turn into something longer term. If you feel that some assistive software might be required temporarily, for example, if the injury was to the hand, arm or fingers and typing an assignment was not possible, we can talk to you about what software exists to support those kinds of temporary set-backs.

You can go online to accessable.co.uk/university-of-sunderland and find out about access to both campuses and university buildings. It is also available via the AccessAble App which is free to download from the App Store and Google Play, giving you accessibility information at your fingertips during your university experience. You can also ask at the Gateway located at City Campus on the ground floor.

No. The Disability Support Team work alongside our colleagues in the Wellbeing Team and Student Financial Guidance Team to provide a comprehensive Student Support Service within the Student Journey Service.

Unfortunately, we are not currently able to offer any funds to help toward the £200 contribution required by the DSA. You can apply to the Student Support Fund  if you are struggling financially.

Unfortunately, we are not currently able to offer any funds to help toward paying for medical letters. You can apply to the Student Support Fund  if you are struggling financially.

Recommendations and adjustments in support plans are not applicable to professional placements.  If support is required in this environment please discuss with placement co-ordinators and programme leaders. This may also be relevant to discuss in any occupational health review you attend.

We have a limited number of accessible rooms in halls which are held for students with specific requirements. If you feel that you require an accessible room please contact our Accommodation Dept to discuss this further. https://www.sunderland.ac.uk/student-experience/accommodation/contact/

Yes, if you would like more information please contact us

Firstly, there’s nothing to worry about, the appointments are quite informal and our advisers are all friendly and welcoming.

Please remember we are here to help you. We want to support you to get the most out of your studies. If you’re not sure what to say or how to start, don’t worry we can do the talking at first, until you feel more at ease. If you want to bring someone to the appointment with you that is no problem.

We will probably start with a chat about why you wanted to see us, or perhaps why one of your tutors, or our colleagues referred you to us. We’ll talk about whether you have a diagnosis of a long-term condition or if perhaps you are awaiting a diagnosis or need help with how to get one.