Find out how to use our Disability Service to access support and talk about any adjustments you may require. You will also be able to visit the University before your course starts, to gain a feel for where you will be based throughout your studies.

The Disability Service at our university is your main point of contact for any disability related queries throughout your studies. The team is responsible for recommending and coordinating your support or adjustments.

Under the Equality Act 2010, Universities have a duty to make reasonable adjustments where disabled students may be placed at a disadvantage in comparison with non-disabled students. Reasonable adjustments enable you to access and participate in learning, assessment, university facilities and services.

Some examples of reasonable adjustments are:

• Exam or Assessment adjustments (e.g. extra time, use of a PC, etc.)
• Support with reading and research (e.g. extended book loans, assistance to locate or/and collect research material, access to alternative formats, etc.)
• Access to specialist equipment and assistive software (e.g. text to speech to assist with research and proofreading, mind mapping to assist with planning and organising your work, a recording device to assist with note taking, etc.)
• Recording of lectures, so you can review the content as often as you need
• Access to handouts and notes in advance of taught sessions
• Additional support from your tutors (e.g. assistance to catch up on missed work or to check your understanding, as required)
• 1:1 Support (e.g. Mentoring, Study Skills tuition etc.)

If you haven’t done so already we would encourage you to contact our Disability Service in order to talk about the support available to you and ensure any adjustments are made in time for your arrival at our university. Your Disability Adviser will also assist you in the process of applying for DSA, if you are eligible for this support or advise you of the alternative support options available to you if not.

The University of Bath runs the Campus Buddy scheme to support new students with Autism Spectrum conditions or social anxiety. We have a team of trained volunteers who commit to spending time with new students right through Semester 1, supporting them as they settle into university life.

We also offer Beginning at Bath, a two-day pre-arrivals event for students with Autism Spectrum Conditions or social anxiety to learn more about the University and navigate the campus during the quieter summer period. If you have declared your autism to our University we will contact you to invite you to Beginning at Bath, but if you have not yet declared and you would like to find out more, please contact us.

The Disability Service is responsible for recommending and coordinating your support or adjustments. Adjustments are tailored on an individual basis so your involvement in this process is essential.

If you decide not to contact the team prior to starting your course you are still welcome to contact us at any point throughout your studies.

It can take time to arrange and implement any support you may require so we would encourage you to contact us in good time prior to your arrival so that we can ensure you have everything in place at the earliest possible opportunity.

To book an appointment with an adviser: email studentsupport@bath.ac.uk or telephone 01225 383838 (+44 1225 383838 from outside the UK).

Appointments are take place in person, via telephone or virtually (MS Teams), so please let us know your availability and which appointment type you would prefer.

Web: https://www.bath.ac.uk/professional-services/disability-service/

It might be useful to think about:

• how you would like to describe your autism and anything you think would be useful to share with your tutors
• any support you have received in the past, what has worked well and what hasn’t worked for you
• how you plan to travel to university
• your experience of teaching sessions, what helps you to gain an understanding of a new topic or task
• how you have found note taking and researching for assignments
• how you have found assessments in the past, e.g. exams, essays, presentations, etc.
• how you feel about group work, placement and practical tasks

If you decide that you are going to attend a different University we would recommend that you contact the Disability Advice team at your chosen university.