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How we can help

About the Disability and Dyslexia Service

We aim to provide all our students with a study environment that enables them to participate fully in our courses. Our commitment is to help you meet the challenges and seize the opportunities that study at Birkbeck presents.

Appointments

  • We recommend that all new students meet with us so we can ensure that their support is in place.
  • Our Disability Advisors offer appointments via the telephone, MS Teams, or in person, Monday to Friday.
  • To arrange an appointment, .

Supporting medical evidence

  • If you have a disability, medical condition, illness, or mental health condition, you will need to provide medical proof; for example, a letter from an appropriate medical professional
  • We recommend that you ask your medical professional to complete the Disability Evidence Form and draw to their attention that the Department for Education advises that, 'as the student can't reclaim any charge made for completing this form via DSAs, we ask that it is provided free of charge.'
  • Your medical evidence should include a short history of your condition; any diagnosis; how long you have had these difficulties; any treatment or interventions you receive; and how it affects you daily. It needs to be dated within the last 12 months.
  • If you have a Specific Learning Difference such as dyslexia, you must provide evidence in the form of a diagnostic assessment report from a psychologist or suitably qualified specialist teacher.
  • If you had a diagnosis before you were 16 it may need to be updated. In addition, letters from school or college about support you needed while studying there will not be acceptable evidence for the purposes of applying for Disabled Students' Allowances. Please to discuss.

Dyslexia or SpLD diagnosis

  • If you are interested in taking a QuickScreen Dyslexia Screening test, with your full name, student ID number and preferred email address. We will then send you instructions on how to take the screening test.
  • Please note that the screening test will give us an indication of the likelihood of dyslexia or other learning difference. Further assessment will be required if the results indicate an underlying specific learning difference.

Specialist computers from the DSA

  • When you obtain computer equipment from the Disabled Students' Allowance, the computer supplier will also provide you with a maintenance contract for the duration of your course. This means that if you experience any difficulties with your computer, all you need to do is call your computer supplier on the telephone number given on your entitlement letter. The supplier can usually provide remote support to assist you in overcoming your difficulty and, if it cannot be resolved, will arrange to collect the computer so they can assess it and conduct any necessary repairs. They will often agree to loan you a computer until your computer has been repaired.
  • If the computer problem causes you problems with meeting assignment deadlines, it would be appropriate to apply for mitigating circumstances.
  • If you continue to experience problems, please arrange an appointment with your disability adviser.
  • The assistive technology on your computer is specifically designed to enhance your learning. The Disabled Students' Allowance will usually fund assistive technology training. This is not to teach you how to use the computer; this is specialist training designed to adapt your learning style so you can make the most effective use of the assistive technology software. If you have a specialist computer from the DSA but have not received the assistive technology training, we strongly recommend contacting the training provider in your entitlement letter.

Study skills support

  • Students with SpLDs are often allocated weekly study skills support sessions from the Disabled Students' Allowance. These are one-to-one, personalised support sessions with specialist tutors who are qualified in teaching students with SpLDs. This is non-subject-specific support. The tutors are not permitted to proofread but can teach you strategies for proofreading yourself.
  • If you have DSA-funded study skills support, but have not taken this up, we strongly recommend you do so. You should contact the provider on your entitlement letter to arrange the support.

What we do

  • We give regular supportive contact, advice and guidance. We assess the reasonable adjustments that you require in learning and teaching and put these on your Study Support Plan. We liaise with your department where these adjustments are not being made and, where appropriate, add additional adjustments.
  • We can assist you with applying for the Disabled Students' Allowance and, where appropriate, with putting the approved support in place. We can also assist you with complex Disabled Students' Allowance inquiries, such as:
    • resolving eligibility issues
    • arranging study needs assessments
    • what to do if you have not received your equipment or software
    • what to do if you have not received your assistive technology training
    • how to arrange your study skills support
    • what to do if you're not finding your study skills support helpful
    • what to do if your DSA-funded computer breaks
    • we can also help with many more issues - all you need to do is .

Who we support

  • If you have a condition that impacts on your ability to study, we are here to provide you with advice and support. We are experienced in providing support to students with a range of conditions, including: 
    • specific learning difficulties (such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder).
    • sensory impairments (such as blind/partially sighted, deaf/hearing impaired)
    • mobility conditions (such as repetitive strain injury, arthritis, neck, back and knee conditions)
    • medical conditions (such as HIV, chronic fatigue syndrome, diabetes, cancer, or chest and respiratory conditions).
    • Please note, the support for students with mental health conditions and autism is provided by the Mental Health Advisory Service.

Disabled Students' Allowance

  • If you have a disability and are a UK student on either an undergraduate or postgraduate course, you can apply for the Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA). The DSA is government funding to meet the cost of disability-related study costs; this can include a computer with assistive technology and training, help towards the purchase of a computer, a non-medical helper (such as a note-taker, dyslexia tutor or a mentor), and additional travel costs
  • Receiving the allowance makes it significantly more likely that you will complete your course and achieve grades that reflect your academic potential. 
  • The application process can take up to three months, so we advise you to apply once you have accepted your offer of a place on a course. The DSA is not means-tested, and you can apply at the same time as you apply for other student loans.
  • Once you have applied for your Disabled Students' Allowance and Student Finance England has confirmed you are eligible, they will ask you to book a Study Needs Assessment to discuss your needs and the demands of your course. The Study Needs Assessment can be either in person or online. 

Additional funding support from Birkbeck

Disability support in the Library

  • We have a Library Disability and Dyslexia Service who provide a wide range of support in the Library. We have a range of assistive technology networked across the College and available in the Library and/or computer laboratories. 
  • There are Accessibility Study Spaces with a range of ergonomic and assistive technology in the Library. The Library also has three Study Support Rooms that can be booked by disabled students for personal study or meeting with their dyslexia study skills tutors

Fire Evacuation and personal Emergency evacuation procedures

  • In the event of an emergency evacuation, we want to be able to support you - find out how we support personal emergency evacuations. If you have a disability that delays your recognition of the fire alarm or your response to it, please review this information and if you need further advice  or call on +44 (0)20 7631 6218 to arrange a personal emergency evacuation plan.
  • We use a Digital Messaging Service (DMS) to ensure Deaf staff and students are sent text messages, on their smartphone, when the fire alarms sound in any of our buildings. As you need to register for this service, it is important that you review the registration information on the Fire Evacuation and Personal Emergency Evacuation Procedures page.