Making the most of university as a disabled student - video transcript

[Title card: Making the most of university as a disabled student]

Kyle: I’m a third year university student with fibromyalgia, and also more recently discovered I was diagnosed with both ADHD and dyslexia. With some other students like me from other Kent universities, we’ve put together this short video to help give you the information we wish we would’ve known when we started at university. To help you make the most of your time at uni.

Jessica: I’m in my final year at university and I too have ADHD. I had no idea that this was classed as a disability when I started uni. However, I’ve since learned that disabilities, sometimes called SEND in schools include physical and sensory impairments, but also mental health conditions, as well as dyslexia and ADHD.

Jessica: So, what can you do to make sure you have the best experience possible?
The first thing to do is share your disability. Tick the box on the UCAS application form.

Dominique: I’m a third year student, and I have generalised anxiety disorder. And I didn’t even know that this meant that I could apply for additional support at university until about halfway through my first year. So I’d say even if you haven’t shared on your UCAS form that you do have a disability, I wouldn’t worry about it because you can always let people know even if you’ve already started your degree.

Alice: I’m in my final year, I have a physical disability, so I always knew that I would need support at university. Some disabled students don’t know that there’s support out there when they’re applying. aren't aware of this when applying. So, the second thing you need to remember is to respond to those unis when they reach out to you.

Kyle: This way, they can put plans in place before you even start, making sure that you have the right support from day one. These inclusion plans are called different things in each of the universities but they’re there to ensure you get the right support you need. It may seem easier to wait and see how you get on, but I really recommend seeking the support you need as soon as possible.

Dominique: The final thing that you can do is access the full range of opportunities available which can be split into academic, social or personal development opportunities. I’d say the biggest one for academic is the Disabled Students Allowance, DSA. It’s a grant which covers additional study-related costs and it isn’t dependent on household income and it doesn’t have to be paid back. It can pay for equipment or non-medical help, among other things. And for me, with DSA, I received a laptop with a range of apps already installed on it, which made studying with anxiety a lot easier.

Kyle: Between DSA and the inclusion plan, you get access to loads of really useful things, like extra time on exams, coursework extensions, recorded lectures, one to one support. I’ve had a lot of help from one-to-one support at uni, and I’m definitely doing better in my course because of it.

Dominique: As far as the social side of uni, most people make life-long friends at some point but don’t worry if this doesn’t happen for you straight away. I thought I needed to make all of my friends in the first week, and that felt stressful. And in fact, I made some of my closest friends in my second or even third year.

Alice: There are so many things you can get involved at university, these can range from the students union and societies. If you can’t find a club you like, you can actually create one! That’s what I did with the Disabled Students’ Society. It’s now a place where students can share the ups and downs of university life as a disabled student. So yeah, I definitely recommend doing that if you can.

Kyle: You have to make the most out of your time at university to stand out from the crowd. For most people, the main goal after university is finding a job and taking the time to figure yourself out both personally and professionally is vitally important to doing so. There’s a lot of things you can do.

Jessica: Like working as a Student Ambassador! Most people need to work to help pay for uni and working as an ambassador is great for both gaining and sharing your experience. There are lots of volunteering opportunities too. For example, I’ve worked as an Academic Peer Mentor which has allowed me to develop skills for future employment.

Alice: I contacted organisations and secured an internship with KMPF. I learned loads of skills and it looked great on my CV. The careers teams are universities are great for guidance, workshops and additional qualifications. So I’d definitely get in contact with them if you can.

Jessica: This video has only highlighted a few of the opportunities available. Check out the blogs we’ve written to find out more.

Alice: The key thing is don’t wait for opportunities to find you. My mum always says ‘If you don’t ask, you don’t get’ and I don’t think this video could be summed up in a better way. Make those friendships, build your CV and just have a great time doing it. Because you can do it. You just have to find the way.

[For more information visit kmpf.org]