The Disability Advisory Service fully committed to enabling students with disabilities, and believe that every student with a disability, Specific Learning Difference, long-term medical or mental health condition should be able to reach their full potential.
On this page you can find out more about the tailored support the Disability Advisory Service can offer to students, so you have everything you need to thrive at the University of Reading.
To access this support, you will need to register with the Disability Advisory Service, you can find instructions on how to register on Essentials. If you have any questions please email disability@reading.ac.uk
Mental Health
For mental health difficulties, in the first instance, you should speak to the University's Student Welfare Team or the Counselling and Wellbeing Team, who might refer you to the Disability Advisory Service for adjustments to help you at University. Mental Health difficulties can include Anxiety, Panic attacks, Depression, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Bipolar disorder, Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), Borderline personality disorder (BPD) and Eating problems.
The Counselling team have mental health advisers who can provide links to specialist support within the local community, advise you with regard to medication and help you to liaise with GPs/other health professionals you may need. Visit our Counselling and Wellbeing pages for more information.
- Support you with your Disabled Student Allowances application
- Provide DSA-funded specialist Mentors (where eligible)
- Liaise with academic departments, so that you have the support you need on your course
- Support via central departments such as the Examinations Office and Accommodation
- Help you make contact with a Medical practice, University Counselling Service, the Reading Students' Union
- Read more on our commitment to support the wellbeing of the University community: Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy
Sensory Disabilities
Sensory Disabilities can include:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- Blindness and Low Vision
- Deafness/loss of hearing
- Support you with your Disabled Student Allowances application
- Provide DSA-funded specialist mentors (where eligible)
- Liaise with academic departments, so that you have the support you need on your course
- Get support put in place via central departments such as the Examinations Office and Accommodation
- Direct you to other university services e.g. The University Medical Practice, University Counselling, Reading Students' Union
- Autism and Aspergers further information
- Accessible campus accommodation
- Campus accessibility
- Disability Advisory Service guides
- Disability funding support
- University support and adjustments
- Accommodation Support information / Accommodation Support application form
- Appeal your non-medical help support
- Appeal your SFE funded non-medical help support
- Access support for independent living/personal care
Physical disabilities and long term medical conditions
Physical disabilities and long term conditions can include:
- Diabetes
- Epilepsy
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Sensory disabilities such as visual impairments, hearing impairments
- Physical conditions affecting mobility
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/M.E.
- Cancer
- Support you with your Disabled Student Allowances application
- Provide DSA-funded specialist mentors (where eligible)
- Liaise with academic departments, so that you have the support you need on your course
- Get support put in place via central departments such as the Examinations Office and Accommodation
- Direct you to other university services e.g. The University Medical Practice, University Counselling, Reading Students' Union
- Student Life with an allergy
- Accessible campus accommodation
- Campus accessibility
- Disability Advisory Service guides
- Disability funding support
- University support and adjustments
- Accommodation Support information / Accommodation Support application form
- Appeal your non-medical help support
- Appeal your SFE funded non-medical help support
- Access support for independent living/personal care
Specific Learning Differences (SpLDs)
Specific Learning Differences (SpLDs) can include:
- Dyslexia
- Dyspraxia
- Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Developmental conditions such as Autistic Spectrum Condition.
- Support you with your Disabled Student Allowances application
- Provide DSA-funded specialist Mentors (where eligible)
- Liaise with academic departments, so that you have the support you need on your course
- Support via central departments such as the Examinations Office and Accommodation
- Help you make contact with a Medical practice, University Counselling Service, the Reading Students' Union
- Autism and Aspergers further information
- Continuing ADHD Medication at University
- Guide to support for Dyslexic/SpLD students
- Disability Advisory Service guides
- Disability funding support
- University support and adjustments
- Appeal your non-medical help support
- Appeal your SFE funded non-medical help support
- British Dyslexia Association: has general information and advice on dyslexia.
- Dyspraxia Foundation: supports individuals affected by dyspraxia.
- Adders: information and support for people affected by ADD and AD(H)D. Mostly aimed at families but research articles are useful
SpLD Frequently Asked Questions
With a diagnosis of a SpLD, you can apply for the DSA (Disabled Student's Allowance). Your diagnostic report is used as supporting documentation of your learning difference. The DSA process can be long and so, if you have your report, do not wait until you arrive at university to apply for it.
If you are diagnosed with a SpLD while at university, we can help you with your DSA application, securing your exam recommendations and additional support. International students are not eligible for the DSA, but we can discuss further options with you.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us for assistance.
We are currently not doing SpLD screenings or assessments at the University.
We would advise you to search for an online screening form such as Quick Scan which costs £14.50.
If you would like to go ahead with an assessment, PATOSS provides a list of Assessors who work locally and nearer to your home location.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
If you think you might be living with a SpLD, where possible, we always recommend getting your assessment and diagnostic report before you come to university. This will help to ensure that any support and adjustments are in place when you start your course.
If you do not have a formal diagnosis, completing an online screener might be a good place to start as it will highlight the likelihood of you living with a SpLD.
If you are unsure, you could discuss your learning differences with a specialist assessor in your area, and then decide whether-or-not to have a diagnostic assessment. Diagnostic reports written by specialist assessors are less expensive than reports written by educational psychologists and are equally accepted.
Great. If you have not done so already, you can register with DAS (Disability Advisory Service) by completing our online registration form and uploading your supporting documentation. We encourage you to register with us before you start your course, this will enable us to get you all set up for the start of term.
You will need to submit supporting documentation of your SpLD. This means that you will need to provide the university with a clear diagnosis of a learning difference. We can only put your reasonable adjustments in place once we have reviewed and accepted your supporting documentation.
The team can advise you about additional support that might be available, including Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSAs).
We are currently not doing SpLD screenings or assessments at the University.
We would advise you to search for an online screening form such as Quick Scan which costs £14.50.
If you would like to go ahead with an assessment, PATOSS provides a list of Assessors who work locally and nearer to your home location.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Your supporting documentation should be a full diagnostic report carried out by a qualified and registered Specialist Teacher/Assessor or Psychologist. At school or college, you may have been assessed for access arrangements and given a JCQ Access Arrangement (Form 8). While this provides useful information, universities do not accept a Form 8 as sufficient supporting documentation of your learning difference, as it does not contain formal diagnosis.
Diagnostic reports must be in English. All supporting documentation written in another language must be translated by a qualified transcription service and formally authenticated as such. If you have questions about the suitability of your supporting documentation, please contact the DAS Office.
Neurodiversity
Dyslexia
The Study Advice Team have a helpful online guide filled with advice for studying with Dyslexia.
You might find it helpful to book an individual advice session with a Study Adviser for an initial chat. The team can talk to you about study strategies, explain the 'reasonable adjustments' available to students with dyslexia or dyspraxia, and give you some information about the assessment process.