Information for Schools' Disability Contacts (DCs)
WHO SHOULD BE REFERRED TO the DISABILITY SERVICE?
We welcome enquires from students with dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties, chronic medical or mental health conditions, sensory impairments or access difficulties.
WHO CAN USE THE DISABILITY SERVICE?
• Any disabled Undergraduate or Postgraduate student (including those with specific learning difficulties like dyslexia).
• University staff who have a disability or who have a query about a disabled student.
• Any prospective disabled student and /or their parent(s) or next of kin if the student is a ‘vulnerable adult’.
WHAT SUPPORT CAN THE DISABILITY SERVICE PROVIDE?
• Pre-Entry Advice
• Campus Accessibility/ Orientation advice
• Assistive Technology application awareness & training
• Dyslexia Screening and Assessments
• Exam Support
• Liaison with Academic Departments on disability issues
• Crisis management of disabled student case
• Information for Complaints and Appeals
• Referral to other Support Agencies
• Library Support
• Accommodation advice for disabled students
• Financial Assistance from the Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA)
HOW DOES A DISABLED STUDENT GET SUPPORT?
• By making an appointment for a face to face appointment with a Disability Adviser.
• By providing the Disability Service with written professional evidence of their disability/or specific learning difficulty (e.g. GP letter or Educational Psychologist’s assessment). If a student has difficulties obtaining evidence this can be discussed in the interview.
• A student can only register with the service if evidence of a disability can be provided.
WHAT HAPPENS IF A STUDENT HAS DISCLOSED A DISABILITY OR CONDITION AT REGISTRATION BUT HAS NOT BEEN TO THE DISABILITY SERVICE AND COMPLAINS ABOUT GETTING NO SUPPORT FROM THE UNIVERSITY?
The onus is on the student to self refer to the Disability Service and attend an appointment with an adviser. When a student ticks the disability box on WebSURF registration, they are sent an invitation to attend for an interview with a Disability Adviser at the Disability Service. If the student ignores this invitation then we will assume that they do not wish to have any support on course and no support provisions will be made.
They will have no WebSURF disability entry and the Disability Co-ordinators in their departments will not know about them. No disabled student can get support at this University without referring themselves to the Disability Service, having a needs assessment interview with a Disability Adviser and signing an explicit Data Protection statement allowing information to be passed on to their academic departments via WebSURF Disability.
Students who do not come to our service should not expect ‘ad hoc’, piecemeal or reactive support to be arranged by individuals within the University. The ethos of good practice is that anticipatory, pro-active support arrangements are made which are evidence-based, fair to other non-disabled students and ‘reasonable’ for the University staff to implement. The purpose of registration with our service is so that disclosure is formally acknowledged, support is agreed and co-ordinated and all relevant parties/stake-holders have been informed with the explicit consent of the student.
DEADLINES FOR EXAM ARRANGEMENTS FOR STUDENTS
USE OF A PC IN EXAMS
There is a computer cluster on Level 7 of the library for use during exam diets by disabled students. This is administered by John Buchanan in Computing Services, telephone: 0141 330 4823 John.Buchanan@glasgow.ac.uk in liaison with Registry, but invigilation remains the responsibility of the School.
ACCESS TO MYCAMPUS for DCs - currently a work in progress
Sylvia Morgan is also always happy to help Sylvia.Morgan@glasgow.ac.uk X2260
SUPPORT FOR SPECIFIC IMPAIRMENT QUERIES
Asperger’s/Autistic Spectrum Disorders/Visual Impairment/low vision
Shona Robertson X 2280 or Shona.Robertson@glasgow.ac.uk
Deaf/Deafened/ Hard of Hearing Students/ Mobility Impairments/ Physical Access difficulties
Julie Summers X 2270 or Julie.Summers@glasgow.ac.uk
Dyslexia and other Specific Learning Difficulties
Saima Bashir X 2414 Saima.Bashir@glasgow.ac.uk
If a dyslexic student appears to need more assistance with proof reading their course work before submission, please refer them back to their Disability Adviser as they may require a review of needs.
Diagnostic Screening for Dyslexia
If a student feels that they have study difficulties which may be related to dyslexia, refer the student to the Disability Service to make an appointment for a computerised screening test. This test is free of charge. Please note we do not offer this service during September and October. Do not enter debate or discussion on the issue of whether or not the student may by dyslexic!
(70% of referrals for dyslexia screening are found not to have dyslexia but have need for other support such as study skills).
Mental Health Difficulties
All three advisers share this caseload, so refer enquirer to Disability Service.
Braille format needed?
Refer to Disability Service Sylvia Morgan 0141 3302260 Sylvia.Morgan@glasgow.ac.uk
Physical access issues on campus can be reported directly to Estates & Buildings physicalaccessissues@gla.ac.uk
Accessibility of individual buildings refer to Disabled Go for specific enquiries: http://www.disabledgo.com/en/org/university-of-glasgow
DISABILITY LIVING ALLOWANCE (DLA)
This is a welfare benefit and should not be confused with DSA (see below). Refer all queries to the SRC (Students’ Representative Council) Advice Centre, John McIntyre Building. SRC Tel: 339 8541 advice@src.gla.ac.uk http://www.src.gla.ac.uk/
DISABILITY STUDENTS’ ALLOWANCE (DSA)
Refer all queries to Disability Service.
BRITISH SIGN LANGUAGE OR QUERIES RE LOOP SYSTEMS
Refer student/visitor to the Disability Service or directly contact the Adviser for Deaf Students – Julie Summers (0141 330 2270). Both Karen Ward, Secretary/Receptionist at Disability Service and Julie have BSL signing skills. Website for loop system availability:-
For list of rooms with INDUCTION LOOPS: http://www.gla.ac.uk/services/estates/roombooking/roomequipmentdetails/features/audioloop-induction/name01/
For list of rooms with INFRA-RED LOOPS:
http://www.gla.ac.uk/services/estates/roombooking/roomequipmentdetails/features/audioloop-infrared/name01/
LIBRARY OR ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY ROOM 529 in the LIBRARY
Refer student/enquirer to the Disability Service or to Denise Currie, the Disability Co-ordinator for the Library 0141 330 7241 Denise.Currie@glasgow.ac.uk
Room 529 has Assistive software and technology which are not available throughout the rest of the University: Kurzweil, JAWS and CCTV for the use of blind and low vision students. The room is also a quiet environment for guide dogs. Therefore the room is prioritised for the use of such students and is NOT open to all who are registered with the Disability Service.
SITE LICENCES FOR ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY
Mindgenius, Zoomtext and Texhelp Gold are all programs that are available on the C.S.C.E. for disabled/non disabled and dyslexic students to use. Texthelp Gold is the core package for people with dyslexic difficulties. Zoomtext is a screen enlargement program for people with low vision. Mindgenius is a concept mind mapping program useful for all students but is particularly useful as a mnemonic strategy for exam revision and for helping students plan out and structure essays.
BROKEN BONES/TEMPORARY DISABILITY
Broken leg-mobility difficulty/crutches The SRC has an Accessible Bus Service
. http://www.spt.co.uk/bus/dab.aspx
Refer to Registry for hardship loan for taxis to access campus http://www.gla.ac.uk/services/registry/students/
Do not refer to Disability Service as temporary disabilities are not the remit of the Service, although Sylvia Morgan is happy to help where possible.
BROKEN ARM SCRIBE NEEDED IN EXAM Refer to School who must seek approval of Clerk of Senate
Tel: 0141 330 8744/3292 Graham.Caie@glasgow.ac.uk
for proposed temporary exam support – Do not refer to Disability Service
STUDENTS/VISITORS with mobility difficulties around campus
Arrangements can be made for the loan of a mobility scooter.
Refer to Sylvia Morgan at Disability Service
tel: 0141 330 2260 Sylvia.Morgan@glasgow.ac.uk
Wheelchair for Campus Visitors or Graduation
Refer to Gatehouse tel: 0141 330 4282
SUPPORT FOR DISABLED VISITORS AT GRADUATIONS INCLUDING BSL SUPPORT and wheelchair for guests
Refer to David Bennion at Registry tel: 0141 330 5510 David.Bennion@glasgow.ac.uk
RETENTION ISSUES
If a disabled student has had a significant period of absence or sick leave because of their disability and has missed teaching on their course, please refer the student to their Disability Adviser who can arrange one to one subject support, if appropriate. This support is funded either by the student’s Disabled Students’ Allowance or by the Disability Service.
DISABILITY DISCLOSURE QUERIES WITHIN UNIVERSITY
Refer to Disability Service or to the FOI/DP Office
DISABILITY DISCLOSURE QUERIES IN RELATION TO JOB INTERVIEWS/EMPLOYMENT
Refer to Dr Archie Roy in the Careers Service
tel: 0141 330 8769 Archie.Roy@glasgow.ac.uk
DISABILITY QUERIES IN RELATION TO UNIVERSITY ACCOMMODATION
Refer to Karen Morton in Residential Services
tel 0141 330 4067 Karen.Morton@glasgow.ac.uk
DISABILITY QUERIES IN RELATION TO PRIVATE LANDLORDS
Refer to SRC Advice Centre in the John McIntyre Building
http://www.src.gla.ac.uk/advice/
GLASGOW INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE & DISABILITY SUPPORT
Refer enquirer to Head of Student Services Tel: 0141 330 8663
DISABLED STAFF
For more information refer to: http://www.gla.ac.uk//disability/informationforstaff/informationfordisabledstaff/
ASSISTED EVACUATION
If the student is ambulant the School staff have a responsibility to ensure that all disabled students in their building are assisted when evacuating the building. If the student needs an evacuation chair to exit the building then Central Services should be summoned (Tel 0141 330 4444) and the student should be taken to the nearest refuge area to await assistance. This area is usually in the stairwell area. The tutor, lecturer or member of School staff should remain with the student until help has arrived. Central Services staff have received training in the use of the evacuation chair.
To contact Central Services in an emergency phone 0141 330 4444.
Disabled PARKING
If enquirer is a Blue Badge holder refer them directly to Gatehouse (Central Services).
If NOT a Blue Badge holder, but claims to have a disability requiring a parking space on campus, please refer them to Disability Service.
PAYMENT PROCEDURES FOR SCRIBES IN EXAMS Guidelines for exam arrangements: http://www.gla.ac.uk/services/disability/informationforstaff/informationaboutexamarrangements
Guidelines for using scribes: http://www.gla.ac.uk/services/disability/informationforsupportworkers/scribeguidelines/
• SAAS no longer pay for scribes and readers for exams – it is now deemed an institutional responsibility so paid for by the Disability Service Budget.
• Invoice Disability Service with spreadsheet of names and costs after each exam diet.
• We can only pay for GTAs employed as scribes
• Permanent staff (full or part time) cannot be paid for this task.
• Invigilation costs will still be borne by the School.
• RATE OF PAY for SCRIBING in EXAMS - GTAs are mostly registered at the Atypical Worker rate of £14.11 per hour (no extra prep time added for scribing).
A. Schools can use their GTAs already registered as Atypical Workers with the Dept.
Your dept will then process the scribes on your payroll for the hours scribed and YOU pay the scribes through your payroll. At the end of the exam session you send detailed costing to Disability Service for a refund.
B. The Disability Service can supply names of subject-relevant support workers registered as Atypical Workers with the Service.
Schools will need to contact the scribes and set up scribing arrangement (as per Calendar regs).
At the end of the exam session send the details of the scribes and costings and Service pays scribe.
DISABILITY EQUALITY SCHEME and ACTION PLAN
Refer to Mhairi Taylor Equality & Diversity Officer at the Equality and Diversity Unit x 4714 Mhairi.Taylor@glasgow.ac.uk or to www.gla.ac.uk/des
The EQUALITY ACT replaced the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) from October 2010. Further information is available at www.equalityhumanrights.com/
How to Join the DISABILITY CONTACTS MOODLE
The Moodle site was one of the requests that came out of last year's DDC briefing session and also from the focus group arranged by EDU for the DES.
The Disability Contacts have ownership https://services.moodle.gla.ac.uk/login/index.php
Moodle Name: Disability Service
Enrolment key: ‘Disability Service’
After you have enrolled you should be able to use your usual MIS user name and password.
Instructions on how to do more complicated Moodle stuff
http://www.gla.ac.uk/services/learningteaching/learningtools/moodle/moodlehowtos/