Do you have a mental health or medical condition, specific learning difficulty, autistic spectrum disorder, hearing, or visual impairment?
Student Services are here to support you throughout your studies, including if you have a disability, condition or additional needs. We’re committed to making sure you have the right support in place to help you succeed.
At Futureworks, we’re here to make sure every student has access to the education they deserve. We’re dedicated to helping you succeed; academically, personally, and professionally. We foster an inclusive, welcoming environment where diversity is celebrated and under-represented voices are supported.
If you have a disability, specific learning difficulty, or health/mental health condition, you can discuss any support needs you may have with our Welfare Officer.
We use the term ‘disability’ as it’s used in Equality Law, where a disability is defined as any condition which has a significant, adverse and long-term effect on a person’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.
Disabilities can include:
- learning difficulties, including people with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia and dyspraxia
- neurodiversity conditions, including Autism, or Autism Spectrum Conditions, ADHD: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADD: Attention Deficit Disorder
- mental health conditions or illnesses which have a long-term effect such as depression and anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, eating disorders, obsessive compulsive disorders, schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder
- physical impairments, such as mobility difficulties
- sensory impairments such as those affecting hearing or sight
- genetic and progressive conditions, if the condition affects your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities such as motor neurone disease, muscular dystrophy
- medical / health conditions e.g., epilepsy
- conditions which are characterised by several cumulative effects such as pain or fatigue
Tell us about your disability / condition
We encourage you to share any information about a disability or support need at any point during your time at Futureworks. You should feel confident talking to our staff—we’re here to listen and help. Once we understand your specific needs, we’ll work with you to create a Learning Support Plan and put any reasonable adjustments in place to support your studies. A Learning Support Plan (LSP) is a personalised document that outlines your disability, how it may affect your studies, and any specific support you might need. It also includes any reasonable adjustments that have been agreed to help you succeed during your time at Futureworks.
Do I have to tell Futureworks about my disability?
No, it’s completely your choice whether or not to share information about a disability or health condition. However, if it could affect your experience on your course, we strongly encourage you to let us know. By doing so, we can work with you to put the right support and reasonable adjustments in place to help remove any barriers you may face due to your disability, health or mental health condition or specific learning difficulty to ensure you get the most out of your time at Futureworks.
Who can I talk to if I want to share or discuss a disability or condition?
If you’re a prospective or current student and would like to talk about a disability or support needs, you can contact our Welfare Officer directly by emailing support@futureworks.ac.uk. We’re here to help and happy to chat with you at any stage of your journey. You’re always welcome to drop by the Student Advice Centre on Floor 3. We’re open Monday to Friday, 10am–12:30pm and 1:30pm–4:30pm. Feel free to visit during opening hours to chat with a member of the team, or if it’s easier, you can email us anytime—we’ll get back to you during our opening hours.
The Welfare Officer can provide you with information, advice and assistance on a range of issues including:
- applying for and accessing Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA)
- help with obtaining the required any supporting evidence
- assessment for dyslexia or other specific learning difficulties
- assessment for ADHD
- creation of a Learning Support Plan to inform your lecturers of your support needs
- identifying appropriate reasonable adjustments to support effective engagement with your studies
- additional arrangements for assessments
- help with arranging support assistance approved by DSA, (e.g. specialist mentor
- liaison with academic staff/departments on your behalf
- signposting and referrals to other support provision (e.g. counselling and mental health support)
Learn more about the areas of support that we offer
Disabled Student’s Allowance
Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) will cover the study-related costs you might need at university because of a disability, health condition, mental health difficulty, or specific learning difficulty. What you’re eligible for depends on your individual circumstances and is assessed by Student Finance. Unlike other Student Loans, this is not means-tested and does not need to be repaid.
The type of support you’ll receive depends on your individual needs – not your household income.
What DSA can pay for
You can get help with the costs of:
- specialist equipment, for example a computer if you need one because of your disability
- non-medical helpers, for example a specialist mentor, study skills tutor, British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter or specialist note taker
- a travel allowance to attend your course or placement because of your disability
- other disability-related study support, for example having to print additional copies of documents for proof-reading
How can I apply for DSA?
To apply for DSA, you’ll need to log into your Student Finance account and start the application. You’ll also need to upload evidence of your disability through their portal, so it’s a good idea to have everything ready before you begin.
You’ll need to provide evidence of your disability or condition when applying for DSA. This could be a diagnostic report or letter from a GP, consultant, or another medical or mental health professional. If you’ve had a previous assessment or diagnosis, you can upload that too. If you don’t have a report, your GP should may your diagnosis on file and can complete an evidence form for you.
For further information about DSA and if you’re eligible please see guidance from your funding provider:
- Student Finance England
- Student Finance Wales
- Student Finance Northern Ireland
- Scottish Awards Agency Scotland
- Student Funding Ireland
- States of Guernsey
- Isle of Man
- States of Jersey
What is the process of applying for DSA?
After you apply for DSA, you’ll get a letter confirming whether you’re eligible. If you are, you’ll likely be invited to a Study Needs Assessment. This is a relaxed meeting with a specialist advisor to chat about your condition and how it affects your studies. They’ll help figure out what support and adjustments will work best for you.
How to contact DSA
You can contact DSA via email dsa_team@slc.co.uk or call 0300 100 0607
Learning Support Plan
Support is available for all students at the institution through a Learning Support Plan (LSP), which ensures that all lecturers are aware of a student’s support needs. This is a personalised document which provides details of your disability and or condition, what impact your disability is likely to have on your studies, and any particular support needs you have. The LSP also identifies any reasonable adjustments that have been identified to support you during your studies.
Once you have provided information about your difficulties, you will have a meeting with the Welfare Officer, who will put together a Learning Support Plan (LSP). This is a document that recommends adjustments for your academic studies. This can be adjustments in the teaching and learning setting, in exams and assessments, practical or performance sessions. The LSP is a flexible document and the recommendations made can change depending on your circumstances and the demands of your course.
You will be asked to review and approve the content of your LSP and give your consent for it to be shared with certain staff involved in your teaching and learning.
The exact recommendations in your LSP will depend both on your disability and your course requirements. Students must discuss specific assessment adjustments with their Programme Leader to receive authorisation to ensure that adjustments are made in line with how the course is taught and assessed. However, some examples of reasonable adjustments include:
- books or learning materials in particular formats e.g., audio, electronic, printed
- specific learning difficulty consideration to coursework to ensure the work submitted is marked in accordance with SpLD guidelines to ensure that all appropriate consideration is taken in the marking process and to enable equity of assessment marking
- permission to audio record classes
- extensions to library loans
- additional time to complete an assignment
- course specific assessment adjustments
Do I need to provide any evidence to get support?
No, evidence is not required to create a Learning Support Plan. We encourage any students requesting a LSP to provide appropriate suitable evidence to support your learning plan, which may include:
- Letter from your GP or medical practitioner confirming/diagnosing your condition
- Educational Psychologist report
- DSA Medical Evidence Form completed by a GP
- DSA Needs Assessment Report
If you feel that your LSP requires updating at any stage during your studies, contact support@futureworks.ac.uk to arrange a meeting with the Welfare Officer.
Personal Evacuation Plan
A Personal Evacuation Plan (PEEP) is a bespoke plan for any student who may have difficulties evacuating Futureworks to a place of safety without support or assistance from others.
A Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan, or PEEP, PEEPs are particularly relevant for some students with mobility and/or sensory impairments (visual/hearing). Additionally, depending on the nature/severity of the impairment, in some circumstances it might be relevant to create a PEEP for students with other disability types. For example, severe PTSD or an autism spectrum condition where an alarm could be triggering or distressing/disorientating.
For example, during the plan, we will:
- identify specific evacuation routes where appropriate
- identify refuge areas and specific evacuation procedures
- identify specialist equipment such an evac-chair
- identify any building adaptations that are required
For instance, you may have a declaration such as:
- mobility impairment
- sight impairment
- hearing impairment
- cognitive impairment
- a medical condition or injury, which may need assistance to evacuate safely
You can arrange a Personal Evacuation Plan (PEEP) by contacting the Welfare Officer directly: support@futureworks.ac.uk
ADHD Assessments
What is ADHD?
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurological disorder that is defined through analysis of behaviour. People with ADHD show a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with day-to-day functioning and/or development.
The main signs of hyperactivity and impulsiveness are:
- being unable to sit still
- constantly fidgeting
- being unable to concentrate on tasks
- excessive talking / physical movements
- being unable to wait their turn
- acting without thinking
- interrupting conversations
- little or no sense of danger
The main signs of inattentiveness are:
- having a short attention span or being easily distracted
- making careless mistakes
- appearing forgetful or losing things
- being unable to stick to tasks that are tedious
- unable to listen or carry out instructions
- difficulty organising tasks
- constantly changing activity or task
I have no formal diagnosis and would like to be referred for an assessment, what do I do?
Futureworks can refer students for an ADHD assessment, if they believe they have ADHD and struggle with some of the characteristics listed above. Students must meet with the Welfare Officer first before any referrals can be made. Any referrals are at the discretion of the Welfare Officer.
Student must pay £199 contribution towards the assessment and Futureworks will cover the remaining fee. If students cannot afford to pay the contribution fee, then they can apply for apply for the Disability Referral & Assessment Fund.
A formal assessment could help you answer what may be a long-held question about whether you have ADHD. A full diagnostic report may provide evidence for reasonable adjustments (e.g., extensions on work) and evidence to apply for Disabled Students Allowance.
It can also help to:
- identify what support you need to help you study
- indicate what type of learning suits you
- explain to others about your specific learning difficult
- highlight your strengths
- get the support you may need
Specific Learning Difficulty Assessment
What is a Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLD)
SpLD is an umbrella term used to cover a range of frequently co-occurring difficulties, most known as:
- Dyslexia
- Dyspraxia
- Dyscalculia
They can affect the way information processed and have significant impact on education, learning and on the acquisition of literacy skills. As with any disability, no two individuals experience the same combination of difficulties, and some people may exhibit signs of more than one SpLD.
Some common characteristics of SpLDs:
- memory difficulties
- organisational difficulties
- writing difficulties
- Visual processing difficulties
- reading difficulties
- auditory processing difficulties
- time management difficulties
- sensory distraction: an inability to screen out extraneous visual or auditory stimuli
- sensory overload: a heightened sensitivity to visual stimuli and sound; an inability to cope with busy environments
I have no formal diagnosis and would like to be referred for an assessment, what do I do?
Futureworks can refer students for an SpLD assessment, if they believe they have dyslexia for example, and struggle with some of the characteristics listed above. Students must meet with the welfare officer first before any referrals can be made. Any referrals are at the discretion of the Welfare Officer.
Futureworks can refer students for an SpLD assessment, after meeting with our Welfare Officer, however a student must pay £100 contribution towards the assessment and Futureworks will cover the remaining fee. If students cannot afford to pay the contribution fee, then they can apply for apply for the Disability Referral & Assessment Fund here. (Link to disability and referral assessment fund)
A formal assessment could help you answer what may be a long-held question about whether you have ADHD. A full diagnostic report may provide evidence for reasonable adjustments (e.g., extensions on work) and evidence to apply for Disabled Students Allowance.
It can also help to:
- identify what support you need to help you study
- indicate what type of learning suits you
- explain to others about your specific learning difficult
- highlight your strengths
- get the support you may need
Our Welfare Officer provides 1-1 pastoral advice and guidance to students who may be experiencing anything affecting their time at university, for example: mental health, financial support, disability support, feeling homesick or just an ear to listen to if you need a confidential space to talk about your worries or concerns.
Students can book 1-1 confidential support meetings to talk through any issues you may be having here.
Most people go through difficult and challenging times at some point and life is not always easy or straightforward. Counselling can be a very effective in helping sort through life is challenging moments.
If you are struggling with your mental health and would like to discuss counselling or if you have any questions about the service, please contact our Welfare Officer directly via email support@futureworks.ac.uk or book a 1-1 support meeting.