This guidance outlines the support available to students studying at the University. It is intended to help staff members gain a clearer understanding of matters relating to disability and your responsibilities to our students.
Click on the important contacts drop down to find out the most appropriate staff member/team to reach out to should you or a student require advice or support.
For general enquiries please email Disability@beds.ac.uk as this email is always staffed during working hours.
|
Name |
Title |
Contact information |
|
Ruki Heritage |
Director of Student Experience |
ruki.heritage@beds.ac.uk 07984 192344 |
|
Jon Stanley |
Head of Student Support |
07885479248 Mainly located in G210 Luton Campus |
|
Lacey Carroll |
Assistant Head of Student Support (Health and Wellbeing) |
Mainly located in P0.31a Bedford Campus |
|
Jo Foster |
Health and Wellbeing Advisor |
Mainly located in G210 Luton Campus |
|
Sophy Lawrence |
Health and Wellbeing Advisor |
Sophy.Lawrence@beds.ac.uk Mainly located in G210 Luton Campus |
|
Sheri Garratt |
Health and Wellbeing Advisor |
Mainly located in P0.31a Bedford Campus |
|
Harriet Barnes |
Health and Wellbeing Advisor |
Mainly located in P0.31a Bedford Campus |
When a student discloses a disability through UCAS, or registers directly with the University, the Evision system will issue email notifications prompting them to complete the Disability Registration Form via their Evision account.
Once this has been submitted, and the required supporting documentation or medical evidence has been sent to the Disability Team email address, an advisor will contact the student.
The advisor will then establish a Learning and Teaching Support Agreement (LTSA) tailored to the student’s individual needs. A student or staff member is able to contact us at anytime if they feel needs have changed or support needs to be put in place. The student’s advisor will be named on their LTSA.
The LTSA outlines a student’s learning support requirements and any recommended reasonable adjustments. It is important to note that many of these adjustments are determined by a Study Needs Assessor employed through the Disabled Students’ Allowance, and must therefore be implemented to ensure compliance with regulations.
Reasonable adjustments recorded in the LTSA can be accessed via the Single Student Lookup on Evision. Guidance on how to access this information can be found here - Staff guide to accessing LTSAs on Evision [PDF]. At present, it remains the responsibility of the student to share their LTSA with you and to discuss its contents. Where a student finds this difficult, their advisor will initiate contact on their behalf.
A new system is due to be rolled out in which tutors and course leads will be notified automatically when a new LTSA is created. Until this system is in place, however, disclosure of the LTSA remains the responsibility of the student.
If you have any questions or queries please do contact the team disabiltiy@beds.ac.uk and we will do our best to answer them.
The Examinations Office will ensure that reasonable adjustments are implemented during the formal examination period. However, it is the responsibility of lecturers to apply the appropriate adjustments for in‑class tests. Please ensure you are fully aware of the adjustments required.
If you have any questions or queries on how to support these adjustments please do contact the team Disability@beds.ac.uk and we will do our best to support you.
|
Reasonable adjustment |
The importance of the adjustment |
|
Additional time in all examinations |
Additional time may be required if a student needs longer to read, write, or process information. The LTSA will specify the amount of extra time permitted (for example, 25% additional time). |
|
Stop clock rest break |
Certain students may require additional concentration and effort during examinations, and as such may benefit from scheduled rest breaks. The invigilator must pause the timing of the examination and permit the break duration specified in the LTSA (for example, up to five or ten minutes). Please note that these rest breaks should be provided in addition to any extra time allowances. |
|
Use of PC |
Some students may experience difficulties with fine motor skills or with the speed at which they can handwrite. In such cases, access to a computer will be required. Where possible, examinations should be conducted in a designated computer room; however, if this is not available, a laptop may be provided; this can be put into flight mode to stop students accessing the internet during the exam. |
|
Invigilator prompts |
Invigilator prompts are provided for students who may require reminders to remain focused, progress to the next question, or follow instructions. These prompts may be verbal or non-verbal (for example, a light tap) and are agreed in advance as a reasonable adjustment for certain candidates. If a student’s LTSA includes such prompts, it is essential that you discuss them well ahead of the examination to ensure they are tailored to the student’s needs. |
|
Alternative assessment |
If a student has an alternative assessment specified on their LTSA, it is important that they communicate their preferred method of assessment to you. For example, a student who is unable to deliver a presentation to the class may request to submit a pre‑recorded presentation instead. |
|
Access to fluids and medication |
Some students may have medical conditions that require them to remain hydrated or to take medication at specific times. It is important that these arrangements are discussed with the student prior to the examination. |
|
Individual/ smaller room |
A student may be unable to sit an examination in a larger venue with many other candidates for a variety of reasons. It is important to speak with them in advance to determine whether they require an individual room or whether they are comfortable sharing a smaller room with a limited number of peers. A smaller room should consist of no more than 8 students. |
|
Reader |
A reader provides support by reading an examination paper or a candidate’s answers aloud upon request, serving as a communication aid for students who require assistance with reading. The reader is a supervised, impartial individual who must read all text verbatim, including the candidate’s responses, without interpretation or additional assistance. Readers are not permitted to explain questions, offer guidance on content, or advise on time management. Some students may only partially use their reader in the exam: it is important to read only when the student requests it. |
|
Scribe |
A scribe in an examination is an individual who transcribes a student’s dictated responses, serving as a writer for candidates who are unable to write independently owing to a disability. |
The Health and Wellbeing Team has developed a series of help sheets that may be of use.
These resources outline a range of disabilities and conditions, explaining the adjustments to which students may be entitled and the rationale for their implementation. They also provide lecturers with straightforward strategies to adopt within the classroom.
EmpowerED: Success for all Podcasts: the podcasts aims to shed light on how the University of Bedfordshire supports students living with ADHD, anxiety, autism, dyslexia and sensory impairments. Designed with prospective students, parents, current students, staff, and the wider community in mind, the podcast aims to raise awareness, break down stigma, and highlight the University’s commitment to fostering a supportive, inclusive learning environment.
We wanted to support both staff and students with their understanding of key learning needs and mental health difficulties. In recent years we have worked hard to make the service more accessible and provide information in a variety of formats. The podcast will help to spread awareness through students and staff, trying to break down the stigma and help listeners to identify different coping strategies, reasonable adjustments, and mechanisms that promote a positive student journey, but also help staff develop their good practice.
If you would like the Health and Wellbeing Team to join your team meetings, please do let us know. We are able to provide advice on LTSAs and reasonable adjustments and answer some of the student queries you may have.
Please see the Disability support webpage for more information on how students can register and what support is on offer for them - Disability Support