Reasonable adjustments: guidance on supporting students

A new training module and updated guidance are available to help colleagues put arrangements in place to support students with disabilities in their learning.

These resources are mainly aimed at academic colleagues who deliver teaching and assessment activities, but are relevant to any colleagues who have a role in implementing or supporting students’ reasonable adjustments for teaching and assessment.

All student facing staff are expected to make themselves familiar with the guidance on the web page.

Colleagues are responsible for implementing reasonable adjustments, or reporting the request, in a timely manner when a student requests these to overcome barriers to their learning.

Examples of reasonable adjustments include providing flexible assessment options, allowing additional time to process information in lectures, or adding visual prompts to make teaching more accessible.

Reasonable adjustment guidance

There are now four main places to seek support with implementing reasonable adjustments:

• Support webpages: Our implementing reasonable adjustments webpages have been updated with an overview of what they are, key things to remember, steps to follow, and links to all guidance. Relevant colleagues should familiarise themselves with the key information and processes.
• Training e-Module: A UoR-specific e-Module on Implementing Reasonable Adjustments has been created in response to requests for more training on this subject. It takes around 30 minutes to complete. All student-facing colleagues should complete this as soon as possible.
• Full guidance document: Understanding and Implementing Reasonable Adjustments for Teaching and Assessment is the University’s main guidance document for understanding how to implement reasonable adjustments for students in the teaching and learning context.
• Disability Resources Teams channel: This is a full suite of guidance and resources and a place to share good practice. Join the Disability Resources Teams area.

The guidance is relevant to colleagues in roles including Module Convenors, Disability Representatives (Academic and Admin), Academic Tutors, Support Centre colleagues, Technicians/Technical Operators or other support colleagues, demonstrators, guest lecturers, or colleagues running sessions for students or in Schools, such as Study Advice, ISLI, Careers, or Liaison Librarians.

Line managers are asked to help by sharing with colleagues in these areas.

This guidance is available thanks to work by colleagues in the Reasonable Adjustments Schools Working Group (RASWG) over the last year to improve our practices and processes.

The work is ongoing and the RASWG will move into phase 2 of the project in the autumn.