New home undergraduate disabled student journey

September to January - UCAS application 

For information and deadlines see - How to apply: undergraduate applications

The UCAS application form gives the applicant the opportunity to disclose a disability or long term health condition or learning difficulty. This information is made available to the University, but is not made available to staff who are assessing the application and does not form any part of the academic decision on the application. 

See information about what happens after you apply.

February/March

Students can apply for DSAs (Disabled Student Allowances) as soon as they have applied for university. This greatly increases the window for disclosure. There is no requirement for a prior disclosure to the Higher Education Institution. Students can give their permission for a copy of their  DSAs report to be sent to the University and the Study Needs Assessor.

University of York accommodation opens for applications in February or March for undergraduate students who will be joining York in September of the same year. Students will be notified by email when accommodation opens for applications, this will be sent to the email which was detailed in their application. Students can apply for accommodation whether York is their Firm or Insurance choice on UCAS. Applications for University of York accommodation can be made at accommodation.york.ac.uk using your You@York login details. Students should make sure that they complete the 'Additional requirements' section of the application. If supporting evidence of their disability is available, don't forget to include this. Supporting evidence can also be added in July if it is not available at the time of application for accommodation.

Any students identified as having complex needs are first invited to a Zoom meeting to discuss their requirements and then if needed are invited to a site visit, when other teams are involved, for example Disability Services, Estates and Campus Services and Health and Safety.

May/June/July

Students on professional programmes can contact Occupational Health for support and advice.

June

Messages sent via the admission team: 

• to all offer holders and information includes a letter from the Student Life and Wellbeing services which contains information about Disability Services
• specific message to all offer holders who have declared a disability or long term health condition or learning difficulty

August 

• confirmed offers to applicants
• messages sent via the admission team:
  • all offer holders are sent information that includes a letter from the Student Life and Wellbeing services which contains information about Disability Services
  • specific message to all offer holders who have declared a disability or long term health condition
• after confirmed offers, work starts on adaptations based on discussions in May/June/July and after the submission of additional requirements to Accommodation Services
• Clearing is how universities fill up any remaining places on their courses and programmes for the upcoming academic year. Those programmes are then listed online during the Clearing period. At this time students can disclose a disability or long-term health condition or learning difficulty. If a confirmed offer is accepted, discussion about adaptations and a possible walk round can be arranged between Disability Services, Estates and Campus Services and Health and Safety.
• Every effort will be made to get adaptations in place for the start of the academic year but there may be occasions where this might not be possible due to circumstances beyond our control.
• internal communications sent to new students that will include information about Disability Services
• If a student has not been in contact with Disability Services before, they are encouraged to complete our online registration form and upload appropriate evidence.
• From mid-August onwards, Disability Services arrange appointments (in person or via telephone) with incoming students if/as required, draft Student Support Plans (SSPs), arrange any required University funded non-medical help for students through external support providers.

September

• Disability Services write to applicants who have declared a disability on their application form. They will be encouraged to complete the online registration and consent form and upload appropriate evidence. For details of evidence required, see the Evidence Requirements - Guidance for Students
• For students accepting confirmed offers through clearing, discussion about adaptations and possible walk rounds arranged between Disability Services, Estates and Campus Services and Health and Safety.

Every effort will be made to get adaptations in place for the start of the academic year but there may be occasions where this might not be possible due to circumstances beyond our control.

• Based on the evidence and information provided by the student, a Student Support Plan (SSP) is compiled and if full consent has been given on the registration form, the SSP will be shared with the Department and, if/as applicable, the Exams Office and reasonable adjustments are put in place. If relevant, and with the student's permission, recommendations are also sent to the Library and timetabling team, for reasonable adjustments to be made.
• Students will receive a copy of their SSP for their records and informed that the academic adjustments can be reviewed if their circumstances change.
• If full consent has not been provided by the student, it is likely that they will need to meet with a Disability Services practitioner to discuss their consent and support needs further.
• A practitioner will determine reasonable adjustment for a student’s course and explore what other support options may be available. For example, the student might benefit from having a support worker in their lectures, help with meeting deadlines, or examination adjustments. If required, a referral might need to be shared with a nonmedical help provider in order for human support to be arranged.
• Freshers/Welcome Week is a welcome to York where your college, department and the University of York Students’ Union run fun and exciting welcome and induction events. You will also receive information about professional services, for example, the Student Hub, Disability Services, Library Services.  See more information about Freshers Week.

Other information

Disability Services

• A student can contact Disability Services at any time.

PEEPS (Personal Emergency Evacuation Procedure)

• Accommodation sends an email to all students and asks them to complete a PEEP Google form with questions agreed by the University Fire Officer. Any student identified as needing a PEEP will be contacted by Fire Safety.
• In the academic department these are prepared by the Departmental Safety Adviser.

Student Support Plan (SSP)

• The SSP can be reviewed and updated by Disability Services as required to reflect a student's changing presentation or needs as they progress through their course. Any updated SSP’s would be shared with the department and relevant services on campus.

Support

• Ongoing support from the department, named contact in Disability Services, external providers of support if used, the Student Hub and University of York Students' Union.