Library disability and dyslexia service

The Library offers a wide range of services and assistive technology for disabled and dyslexic students.

Before you can use our services, you must complete your Study Support Plan. 

Browse our services and support

Accessible study spaces

• Our Accessible Study Spaces have adjustable furniture and lighting.
• 10 study spaces with computers are available in the Accessibility Centre on the first floor of the Library. This is a shared room and does not require booking. 
• Three study spaces, Study Support Room A, B, and C are available to book on the first floor of the Library. These rooms can be used for solo study, or with an assistant/tutor.  You can use the rooms for a maximum of three hours per day.  The dictation software Dragon is available to use in these rooms. Please note you need to log in within 15 minutes of the start of your booked session.

Assistive software 

• The following software is available on all computers at Birkbeck: 
  • ClaroRead reads text aloud from the screen and can scan and convert PDFs to Microsoft Word documents. Watch a ClaroRead tutorial on YouTube. 
  • ClaroCapture can help you organise and edit your reading material. Watch the ClaroCapture tutorial on YouTube. 
  • Jaws is a screen reader that helps users with vision difficulties navigate without a mouse. Watch Jaws overview on YouTube.
  • Mindmapping software: please speak to a member of the LDDS team about free-to-use alternatives for your phone and laptop whilst new software is tested for accessibility.
  • ZoomText magnifies your screen. Watch Zoom basics video on YouTube.

One-to-one support 

• Book a session with Helen Frosi or Michael Wheare. Sessions can be in person at the Library, or online using MS Teams.
  

Help Accessing library materials 

• Once you have completed your Study Support Plan: 
  • you will get an extra week for your book loans (but not for renewals or one-day loans). 
  • you can request books in a digital format that you can read with text-to-speech software. Use the 'Request books in digital format' link in the 'PHOTO, ID CARD AND LIBRARY’' section of your My Birkbeck profile or email us directly.
  • You can get an account with RNIB Bookshare, a database of academic texts in accessible formats.
• You can also nominate a proxy borrower to borrow and return books for you.
  
• You can request print books from Birkbeck Library be fetched and kept aside for you to collect, or have them posted to you. Use this Birkbeck Library item request form to select the books you would like.

Sensus Access: make documents accessible 

• You can use Sensus Access to convert documents into accessible formats.

Contact us

• You can contact Helen Frosi and Michael Wheare if you have any Library disability and dyslexia service queries.
  • email us 
  • call +44 (0)20 3926 1441