Organisations that offer advice and support to disabled students

(if you are copying down any of the addresses below for later use please note that _ is used instead of a space)

links under construction

Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome
A site devoted to support for students with autism or asperger’s syndrome
http://www.users.dircon.co.uk/~cns/index.html

Austism and Asperger’s support groups- Kent and Medway
http://www.kentandmedway.nhs.uk/disability/ learning_disabilities/autism_and_asperger_s_syndrome.asp

Royal National Institution for Deaf people – RNID
HEADSTART is an initiative which aims to support deaf and hard of hearing individuals to go to university. HEADSTART is being implemented at a number of universities and colleges throughout the UK.
http://www.rnid.org.uk/ information_resources/ education/ students/

You can order free, printed versions of RNID factsheets and leaflets from their Information Line. Topics covered range from Benefits and allowances for deaf students to deaf students in HE-your rights under the DDA to equipment to held deaf learners.
http://www.rnid.org.uk/ information_resources/ factsheets/ education/ factsheets_leaflets/

Kent County Council Deaf Service Bureau
The Bureau provides a range of services to partially hearing people of all ages, through staff skilled in communicating with people who are deaf and who have a broad knowledge and dept of understanding of the deaf community.
http://www.apps.kent.gov.uk/ss/deaf/

HI KENT
Hi Kent is an umbrella organisation that provides support for deaf and hearing impaired people with local resource centres at Canterbury, Maidstone and Medway.
http://www.hikent.org.uk/

Royal National Institution for Blind people – RNIB
Information for blind and partially sighed students including careers advice. There is an online community for students to get in touch with other blind and partially sighted students studying all over the UK.
http://www.rnib.org.uk

Kent Association for the Blind- KAB
Supports blind and partially sited people in Kent to help them attain the highest level of independence
http://www.kab.org.uk

Dorton College- Seal- Kent
A Specialist residential college of Further Education for students who are clinically or partially sighted. Dorton College is part of the Royal London Society for the Blind and is committed to empowering people with a visual impairment to lead independent lives through the provision of high quality education, training and employment services.
http://www.rlsb.org.uk

British Dylexia Association
Help for Higher Education Students
http://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/

Kent and Medway Dyslexia Support
http://www.kentandmedway.nhs.uk/ disability/ learning_disabilities/ dyslexia.asp

MIND
MIND is the leading mental health charity in England and Wales that works to create a better life for everyone with experience of mental distress. They have produced printable booklets on ‘How to cope with the stress of student life’ and ‘How to cope with exam stress’
http://www.mind.org.uk/ Information/ Booklets/ How+to/ How+to+cope+with+the+stress+of+student+life.htm
http://www.mind.org.uk/ Information/ Booklets/ How+to/ How+to+cope+with+exam+stress.htm

BBC OUCH- Student diaries
Read the diaries of four freshers on life as a disabled student and join the student forum to share your experiences
http://www.bbc.co.uk/ouch/lifefiles/student/

Students First
The experience of disabled student in higher education is a report arising from the research project ‘Policy and Provision for Disabled Students in Higher Education’ conducted over the period June 1996 to June 1997 and commissioned by the Scottish Office Education and Industry Department (Ref. TRB/14/61)
http://www.scre.ac.uk/resreport/rr85/

National Network of Access Centres
The National Network of ACCESS Centres is a UK-wide network of specialist services that work together to assist individuals with sensory or mobility disabilities, dyslexia and long-term medical conditions with participation in education, employment and training through the following activities:

Assessment for assistive technology and study strategies
- Advice on obtaining funding for specialist equipment and personal assistance.
- Training for individuals in the use of equipment,software and access strategies.
- Advice, Training and consultancy for organisations, institutions and employers in the range of assistive technology and strategies disabled people can use to access education and employment.
- Students in Higher Education in the UK are often referred to an Assessment Centre for a DSA-funded Study Aids and Strategies Assessment, sometimes referred to as a ‘needs assessment’
- You can find your local Assessment Centre on the National Network of Access Centres website
http://www.nnac.org/find.html

Kent and South East Assessment Centre is a DfES QAG (Quality Assurance Group) registered Assessment Centre that can carry out Assessments of Needs for students on behalf of all LEAs and Higher Education Institutions. You can find out more by visiting the website
weblink temporarily suspended

Kent Assesors in partnership with Kent Association for the Blind (KAB) also offer a range of Disability Assessments primarily for those studying and working in the county of Kent. They use a variety of centres across Kent in order to be adaptable and flexible to the needs of their clients. Contact details at
http://www.kentassessors.org.uk

National Union of Students
NUS online Support for students with disabilities
http://www.nusonline.co.uk/campaigns/studentswithdisabilities/

National Bureau for Students with Disabilities -SKILL
Skill is an independent charity that provides a free information and advice service for people with any kind of disability in learning and employment.
CHESS is the consortium of higher education support services for Deaf Students
http://www.skill.org.uk

DIRECT GOV
Information to help get you started in higher education: choosing a course, help with applications and interviews, advice about student finance and graduate careers.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/ Topics/ Learning/ HigherEducationStudents/ fs/ en

There is also advice for disabled people on independent living, leisure, financial support and rights.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/Audiences/DisabledPeople/fs/en

DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION ACT - DDA
A UK Government website on disability and the amendment to the DDA law to bring pre and post-16 education into the DDA.
http://www.disability.gov.uk/
http://www.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts2001/20010010.htm

Disability Rights Commission
Is an Independent body to secure the rights for disabled citizens. Provides information relating to the DDA, advice about your rights and arbitration services. The DRC guide for Disabled students and learners gives advice on what is meant by discrimination and how to make a legal complaint.
http://www.drc-uk.org/ publicationsandreports/ publicationhtml.asp?id=139&docsect=0§ion=0
http://www.drc.gov.uk/ education/ knowyourrights/ students.asp

National Disability Team – NDT
User friendly site offering a wide range of resources, materials and support about disability issues in higher education. The main features include: a resource directory; online helpdesk and news items related to disability.
http://www.natdisteam.ac.uk

National Centre for Independent Living
Resource on independent living and Direct Payments for disabled people and others working in the field.
http://www.ncil.org.uk

Centre for Independent Living in Kent- CILK
CILK was formed in April 2002 to support the postive promotion and uptake of Direct Payments and Independent Living for Disabled people in Kent. Among other services they offer information, heal and support through Advocacy and a Peer Network programme.
http://www.kentdp.co.uk/press1.htm#

Kent County Council - Direct Payments
http://www.kent.gov.uk/SocialCare/dis