Disability Service

Students with Specific Impairments

If you have a disability (chronic medical condition, a physical or sensory impairment, mental health difficulties or other) we would encourage you to contact our Secretary for an appointment with a Disability Adviser in the first instance.

When you come to our service you will be given an individual "needs assessment" to determine your requirements. This involves identifying any barriers or areas of concern on your course in relation to your condition and identifying appropriate provisions.


We provide study-related support and advice to students with chronic medical conditions, which can include:

  • Arthritis;
  • Crohn’s disease;
  • Chronic Fatigue Syndrome;
  • Diabetes;
  • Epilepsy;
  • Heart conditions;
  • Hepatitis;
  • HIV;
  • Repetitive strain injury;
  • SLE / Lupus;
  • Ulcerative colitis.
Examples of support available:
  • Teaching staff awareness;
  • Permission to record lectures;
  • Flexibility – with attendance & submission of assignments;
  • Access to assistive technology – e.g. dictation software; digital recording device;
  • Training in use of assistive technology;
  • Extended library loans & use of the fetching service in the library;
  • Exam provisions (extra time, use of a computer, rest or toilet breaks, permission to eat/drink during exam);
  • Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA), if eligible, to fund disability related equipment and support (please refer to Funding Information).
Evidence requirements.

We require you to bring supporting medical evidence to the appointment with your Disability Adviser. This should be a letter from your GP or consultant confirming your condition and outlining how it affects you. Information about your condition and how it impacts on you in a study context will only be passed on to a third party – e.g. your Academic School – with your explicit written consent.

Physical impairments.

Julie Summers is the Disability Adviser with particular expertise and experience of conducting needs assessments with students who are physically impaired. Appointments can be arranged by contacting Julie at disability@glasgow.ac.uk or by phoning our secretary on + 44 (0) 141 330 5497.

Individual pre-entry visits can be arranged prior to application or admission by contacting the service. These visits can include campus orientation and a visit to student accommodation can also be arranged, if required, to familiarise the prospective student with the accessibility of the campus and our student residences.

Further information:
Mental health difficulties.

We provide study-related support and advice to students who have ongoing mental health difficulties, for example, students with:

  • Anxiety or panic disorder;
  • Bi-Polar Disorder;
  • Depression;
  • Eating disorders;
  • Obsessive compulsive disorder;
  • Schizophrenia.
Examples of support available:
  • Teaching staff awareness;
  • Flexibility – with attendance; the submission of assignments;
  • Mentoring support;
  • Study skills support;
  • Advocacy with academic Schools;
  • Permission to record lectures;
  • Access to assistive technology – e.g. digital recording device;
  • Training in use of assistive technology;
  • Extended library loans;
  • Exam provisions – e.g. extra time; sitting exam in separate room;
  • Liaison with Community Mental Health or other professionals, with the student’s consent;
  • Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA), if eligible, to fund disability related equipment and support.
Evidence requirements.

We require you to bring supporting professional evidence to the appointment with your Disability Adviser. This should be a letter from your GP, CPN or psychiatrist which confirms your condition and how it affects you. Information about your condition and how it affects you in study context will only be passed on to a third party – e.g. your School(s) - with your explicit written consent.

Other support:

Counselling and Psychological Services.

Support and access for D/deaf and hard of hearing students.

Julie Summers is the Disability Adviser at the University of Glasgow for D/deaf and hard of hearing students. Julie has British Sign Language Stage 1 & 2 certificates and a Deaf Awareness certificate (all awarded by CACDP). Appointments can be arranged by contacting Julie directly or our Secretary on disability@glasgow.ac.uk or + 44 (0) 141 330 5497.

Julie Summers
Tel/text: +44 (0) 141 330 2270;
Fax: +44 (0) 141 330 4562;
Email: julie.summers@glasgow.ac.uk.

Examples of support available:
  • Notetaking (manual or electronic);
  • Sign language interpreting;
  • Radio-microphones;
  • Digital voice recorders;
  • Camcorder (to film interpreters);
  • Exam arrangements eg extra time & invigilator awareness;
  • Digital hearing aids;
  • Loop systems;
  • Advocacy with academic Schools.
Pre-application / Pre-course support.

We offer a confidential one-to-one appointment at Open Day and Applicants’ Visit Day with Julie. This will take place in a private room in the Disability Service. We will arrange a sign language interpreter or other communication service for this appointment, if this is required. If you cannot attend the official Open Days we can arrange for you to visit the University at another time.

Letting us know you are D/deaf or hard of hearing.

We want to make sure that appropriate access and support is arranged for you (for lectures, tutorials, seminars, labs, field trips, project work, exams, Freshers’ Week and other course activities). Information you give us will not be passed on to any third parties without your permission.

If you intend to study at the University of Glasgow in the next academic year please complete our Pre-Entry Form ().

This form gives you the chance to give us your contact details and disclose information about what support and arrangements you might need. Please return the form to the Disability Service.

If you disclose at pre-entry stage we will offer you an appointment with Julie Summers before your course starts. If you choose to disclose your disability once you have started your course you can disclose on MyCampus. We will be automatically informed of this and will contact you to offer you an appointment with Julie.

Completing a pre-entry form & disclosing a disability on MyCampus is the first step. We need to meet with you in person for an appointment before we can make arrangements for you.

Evidence requirements.

You will need to bring professional evidence to the appointment which confirms your deafness/hearing loss. This should be an audiogram or letter from your audiologist or GP.

Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA).

You may be eligible to apply for DSA. Julie Summers will discuss this with you and will help you make an application if you are eligible. DSA can pay for disability related equipment and communication services. The Disability Service is an accredited DSA assessment centre and can carry out DSA needs assessments (for more information about DSA please refer to Funding Information).

If you are interested in applying to the University and are blind or visually impaired, please contact Shona Robertson on + 44(0) 141 330 5497 if you want to discuss your own specific support needs or preferred formats. Shona is the specialist case worker at the University for students with low vision.

Pre-Application/Pre-Course Support.

We can offer a private interview at Open Day or on Applicants’ Visit Day. This interview takes place in a private room with the Disability Adviser, the prospective student and the parent, teacher or support worker, as appropriate. Prior to starting your course we can also offer a personal campus orientation tour and we can arrange to work with your mobility worker or Social Work Department on mobility training, as appropriate.

Students are often advised to take up a place on our 8 week Summer School course. If a student is recommended by the Disability Adviser for a place on this course they are given a priority allocation by the Director of the Summer School. This 8 week course can help students prepare for the transition from school or college to university life and we have had excellent feedback from disabled students who have completed this course and who have felt that it has helped them immensely in the transition process.

Examples of support available:
  • Peer mentoring support during Freshers’ week and thereafter, as necessary;
  • Personalised package of assistive technology and hardware;
  • One to one training in the above technology;
  • Support during examinations (e.g. exam papers in preferred format, extra time, use of a scribe or reader or use of assistive technology during the exam such as Zoomtext);
  • Use of restricted access computer cluster based in a quiet room in the library (assistive technologies available such as CCTV, Kurzweil, the JAWS program and large monitor computer screens);
  • Lecture notes, handouts, power point presentations and course handbooks on the Moodle (downloadable in accessible format);
  • Personal assistants for reading, scanning and library support work and electronic note-takers for lectures;
  • Regular liaison between Disability Service and external stakeholders who work with blind and visually impaired students (e.g. RNIB and SKILL SCOTLAND);
  • Regular monitoring and review meetings between the student and the Disability Adviser;
  • Regular liaison between the Disability Adviser and the Disability Co-ordinators in academic Schools.
Evidence requirements.

Students need to bring either medical evidence of their condition or their registration certificate to their initial interview with the service. This will enable the Disability Adviser to help the student to apply for funding for appropriate support strategies and also to co-ordinate and confirm officially with the academic Schools the support the student requires.

Visit SAAS’s website for information about DSA, or contact SAAS by email: SAAS_4@scotland.gsi.gov.uk or phone 0845 111 0244.

The guide dog toilet in the landscaped area north of the library entrance, is now in operation. This is a low walled enclosure next to the bike parking space, tucked away from the main sitting area. If you enquire at the main entrance to the library the janitors on duty will direct you.

Meares-Irlen Syndrome.

Meares-Irlen Syndrome, (also known as Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome, Irlen Syndrome, Visual Dyslexia or Visual Stress) is the term used to describe a number of symptoms which make reading difficult and often uncomfortable, especially for prolonged periods. The symptoms experienced can range from mild to severe. Common Symptoms of Meares-Irlen include:

  • Light Sensitivity;
  • Inefficient Reading;
  • Slow Reading Rate;
  • Attention Deficit;
  • Physical Symptoms;
  • Poor Depth Perception.
Support available:
  • Extended library loans;
  • Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA), if eligible, to apply for funding for appropriate strategies such as precision tinted lenses or assistive technology;
  • 1-1 training in assistive technology;
  • Use of precision tinted glasses in exams;
  • In some cases, extra exam time.
Evidence requirements.

We require you to bring valid supporting evidence to the appointment with your Disability Adviser. This should be a letter from an appropriate specialist, such as a registered Orthoptist or Irlen Diagnostician, confirming your condition and outlining how it affects you.

Appointment for Meares-Irlen Syndrome screening.

If you are a registered student, and you feel you are experiencing symptoms of visual stress we offer a diagnostic screening service which is free of charge. Claire Rattray, Disability Adviser, is a qualified Irlen Screener and can fully assess all students who display symptoms of visual stress to determine if referral for full diagnosis by an appropriate specialist is recommended.

To request a Meares Irlen screening appointment with Claire please phone the service on + 44 (0) 141 330 5497. If you wear glasses, please bring them with you to the appointment. Please note: if you have not had your eyes tested within the last year, we would also advise you to go an optician to have an eye test first and get appropriate treatment before any screening is undertaken.

Pre-Application/Pre-Course Support.

As many students with Asperger’s syndrome are noise sensitive and dislike large crowds, we offer a private interview at Open Day or on Applicants Visit Day. This interview takes place on request, in a private room with the Disability Adviser, the prospective student and their parent, teacher or support worker, as appropriate.

Students are often advised to take up a place on our 8 week Summer School course. If a student is recommended by the Disability Adviser for a place on this course they are given a priority allocation by the Director of the Summer School. This 8 week course can help students prepare for the transition from school or college to university life and we have had excellent feedback from Autistic Spectrum Disorder students who have completed this course and who have felt that it has helped them immensely in the transition process.

Examples of support available:
  • Peer befriender support during Fresher’s week;
  • Assistive technology and hardware to enable student to work in a quiet environment off campus;
  • One to one training in the above technology;
  • Separate room during examinations to minimise disturbance to concentration;
  • Autistic Spectrum Disorder students placed in a group with a tutor who has awareness of the condition;
  • Mentoring, socialisation or study support from a post graduate student on a weekly basis;
  • Specialist one to one support from the National Autistic Society of Scotland (NAS) (meetings usually funded from the Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA));
  • Regular contact between our Disability Service and external stakeholders who work with Autistic Spectrum Disorder; students (e.g. National Autistic Society Scotland www.autism.org.uk/scotland & Social Work Departments);
  • Regular monitoring and review meetings between student and Disability Adviser;
  • Regular liaison between Disability Adviser and the Disability Co-ordinators in academic Schools to discuss and resolve any issues or problems in relation to ASD students;
Evidence requirements.

Students need to bring a copy of the assessment evidence for their Asperger’s condition to their initial interview with the service. This will enable the Disability Adviser to help the student make a Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) claim to apply for funding for appropriate support strategies and also to co-ordinate and confirm officially with the academic Schools the support the student requires.

Visit SAAS’s website for information about DSA, or contact SAAS by email: SAAS_4@scotland.gsi.gov.uk or phone 0845 111 0244.

Please contact Shona Robertson for further information about support for students with Asperger’s syndrome at the University of Glasgow:

Shona Robertson
Senior Disability Adviser
+44 (0) 141 330 2280
shona.robertson@glasgow.ac.uk

We provide support and advice to students with specific learning difficulties, which can include:

  • Attention Deficit (Hyperactivity) Disorder (AD(H)D);
  • Dyscalculia;
  • Dysgraphia;
  • Dyslexia;
  • Dyspraxia (Developmental Coordination Disorder).
Examples of support available:
Evidence requirements.

We require you to bring robust, professional, valid supporting evidence to your initial appointment. This is usually a full Educational Psychologist report using approved and standardised adult tests.

Updated supporting evidence required.

If your report does not meet these criteria, and you require an updated assessment, we offer access to the services of a Chartered Educational Psychologist experienced in assessing the needs of adults in Higher Education. It is advisable to come to our service as early as possible should a reassessment be necessary.

Dyslexia Screening and Assessments.

If you are a registered student, and are experiencing genuine study related difficulties which you feel may be linked to undiagnosed dyslexia, or other specific learning difficulty, we offer a diagnostic screening service which is free of charge. This service is available between mid-November – August and is undertaken by an appropriately qualified Disability Adviser.

Depending on the outcome of the dyslexia screening, referral to a Chartered Educational Psychologist may be appropriate. If this is not recommended, we will advise you of other services who may be able to support you e.g. Student Learning Service or Counselling and Psychological Services. To request a screening appointment please phone the service on +44 (0) 141 330 5497 from mid-November onwards.

Dyslexia testing if English is not your first language.

Please contact the Disability Service on + 44 (0) 141 330 5497 or email disability.glasgow.ac.uk if:

  • You have previously been diagnosed as having dyslexia but your report is not in English
  • You suspect your assessment is no longer valid e.g. you were assessed as a child and have not had a recent assessment
  • You are experiencing genuine study related difficulties and suspect you may have dyslexia or other specific learning difficulty
Study/literacy support

If you are unsure whether a dyslexia screening is an appropriate route for you or if you simply wish to brush up on your study skills or improve your literacy, the following resources/services may be of interest to you:

Further information: