The Accessibility and Disability Resource Centre (ADRC) provides confidential and accessible advice, information, and guidance. We offer this service to disabled students and University and College staff working with them.
We aim to:
- increase access and attainment for disabled students through:
- academic-related disability support
- inclusive design principles
- help the institution to meet its legal duties to disabled students
Our core remit is to:
- identify barriers to learning opportunities for disabled students
- make recommendations to remove disadvantages faced by disabled students (Social Model approach)
- promote and develop understanding of inclusive teaching and learning practice (Universal Design for Learning),
- work with academic, support and professional services colleagues to put these principles into practice (Affirmative Model approach)
- increase access and inclusion for disabled students as a result of applying these principles
The ADRC’s responsibilities
We are responsible for:
- providing information, advice and guidance for prospective and current disabled students on:
- appropriate access requirements related to teaching, learning and assessment in both University and College teaching settings
- strategies to reduce the impact of impairments on study related tasks
- sources of diagnostic support, for example, educational psychologists
- specialist support outside of the ADRC’s remit, for example, referrals to University, College Mental Health and Wellbeing services
- funding sources for access requirements
- productivity tools, for example software and equipment
- facilitating the provision of human support
- helping to develop policy, strategy, processes and training to support the University’s objectives on inclusivity, accessibility and Universal Design for Learning
- providing information, advice and guidance to University and College staff on strategies to improve access and inclusivity for disabled students via:
- training and consultancy
- recommendations for access requirements or adjustments for individual disabled students
- recommendations for inclusive teaching and learning practice
- productivity tools or assistive technology, for example, software
- recommendations for examination access arrangements (EAA)
- evidence-based policy and practice
- data collection and analysis
- providing factual supporting evidence for:
- adjusted modes of assessment (AMA) requests
- examination allowances and appeals
What the ADRC is not responsible for
- providing or funding diagnostic assessment services
- clinical or therapeutic support provision
- mental health crisis or emergency support
- acting as an advocate for disabled students in appeals, complaints or formal University or College processes
- producing Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs)
- adjudicating on the accuracy or acceptability of these requirements:
- Emotional Support Animals or Assistance Animals
- adapted accommodation or accommodation above the standard for individual Colleges for example, assessing the need for ensuite accommodation