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University of the West of Scotland


Enabling Support

NON MEDICAL PERSONAL HELP

What is Non Medical Personal Support?


Non Medical Personal Support is the general term used to describe those individuals who are employed to help students undertake any activities which they may find difficult to undertake independently as a direct result of a disability.  Non Medical Personal Support normally includes the following roles:

  • Note Taker/Scribe – A person who, with the student,  attends classes to provide detailed lecture and/or study notes to a high standard.
  • Proof Reader – Provides support and guidance to students with disabilities in relation to the correct use of spelling, organisation and structure of course work assignments.
  • Support Worker – May provide note taking support, as well as mobility assistance, and physical/personal assistance to students if required.
  • Communication Support Worker – Acts as a facilitator for students who experience significant hearing impairments by interpreting information presented via English language and translating into British Sign Language (BSL).
  • Dyslexia Tutor – Provides one to one support to students who experience learning problems as a result of a Specific Learning Difficulty (SPLD).  Helps with organisation and development of independent learning skills.

Why might I need Non Medical Personal Support?

At the University of the West of Scotland we recognise that some students who are unable to independently engage fully with the academic curriculum because of a disability or learning difficulty may benefit from personal assistance to complete those tasks which they find difficult to achieve independently.

To that end, we in Enabling Support aim to provide appropriate Non Medical Personal Help to those students with disabilities who have met with an Enabling Support Advisor, and who have been assessed as requiring such support. This support is designed to assist a student in areas where they may struggle as a direct result of their disability, i.e. Notetaking support may be provided to a student who suffers from manual dexterity problems. This support however, is not designed to give a disabled student any form of Academic advantage, but is instead designed to enhance the student experience for all by providing equality of opportunity and equal access to the curriculum for all students.

Who arranges recruitment and payment for Non Medical Personal Support?

At the University of the West of Scotland we aim to minimise the impact a disability may have on a student’s learning experience, and subsequently we provide all Non Medical Personal Support for students, including the management of all administration and payments, however there may be occasions when specialist support is required. On such occasions we are likely to use support from one of the following agencies:

 

 

 

 

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