My experience with student Disability Services at the University of Huddersfield

Accessing support

To first contact the disability services, you have to go through an online system and submit a form. You will then be matched with a Disability Adviser who will contact you to arrange a meeting. 

You can choose whether you’d prefer for the meeting to be online or face-to-face, as well as what days and times would work for you. I found this system super simple, easy-to-understand, and found that the length of time between submitting the form and being contacted was not long at all!

But if you need some extra assistance, grab a buddy or parent to sit down with you and read through it.  During the appointment, I had to explain my symptoms, how they impact me within university, and I also had to provide medical evidence. Typically, this would be a letter from the doctor detailing diagnosis and symptoms. 

Following this appointment, the service created a PLSP (Personal Learning Support Plan) which details the ways in which you may struggle and all adjustments that have been put into place to accommodate for them. For example, such as 25 per cent extra time in exams, a separate room and time for breaks. The service was extremely understanding and supportive with my struggles and in helping find ways for me to continue my studies to a standard I’d be satisfied with. 

Aside from the PLSP, the Disability Service workers also did an amazing job in guiding me through applying for a Disabled Students’ Allowance to get additional assistance, as well as helping to provide evidence for any extensions or EC’s that may have been needed if my illness became too obstructive to my studies. Overall, I found them to be a very open and kind group, fostering a space of no judgement where you truly don’t doubt that they are there to help you.