Disability

Requesting Support Without an Appointment

If you only require support for examinations and class tests and do not wish to meet with a Disability Adviser, you may submit a request using the Exam Support Request Form.

Required Evidence

When completing the form, you must upload evidence of previous exam support, such as:

• A letter from your school outlining your SQA exam support provision
• A copy of your individualised learner support plan from a previous college or university

If you do not have suitable evidence, you will need to meet with a Disability Adviser. In this case, please complete the Support Request Form instead.

To help us put appropriate support in place as quickly as possible, please provide documentation that confirms your disability or specific learning difficulty. This may include:

• A letter from your doctor or consultant
• An Educational Psychologist’s report
• A letter from a previous education provider (e.g. high school or college) confirming support arrangements for teaching and assessments
• A previous Study Aids and Study Strategies Assessment Report (also known as a Needs Assessment)

Where possible, please submit your evidence as a single Word or PDF file. If you're using a mobile phone to take photos of documents, please copy the images into one file, ensuring:

• All pages are included and in the correct order
• Images are clear, readable, and properly rotated
• Each image shows the full page of the original document

Providing complete and clear documentation will help us avoid delays in arranging your support.

If you are an enrolled student at UWS and do not currently have evidence of a specific learning difficulty (SpLD), such as dyslexia or dyscalculia, the Disability Service can support you in arranging an assessment with an Educational Psychologist.

This assessment can provide a formal diagnosis and offer valuable insight into your individual strengths and challenges. It helps ensure you have access to the adjustments and resources you need to succeed in your studies

Please note: Educational Psychologists cannot assess for ADHD or ADD. If you suspect you may have ADHD or ADD, you should speak to your GP about a referral for a specialist assessment.

To discuss next steps or request an assessment, please contact the disability service

Specific learning difficulties include conditions such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dyspraxia. At UWS, we are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible learning environment where all students can thrive.

Students with specific learning difficulties can benefit from a range of built-in support, including:

• Lecture capture, where recordings of lectures (usually slides and audio) are available to review at your own pace
• Lecture materials available in advance to support preparation and note-taking
• Assistive software available on campus PCs, including tools for mind-mapping, text-to-speech, and enhanced spelling and grammar support
• Academic Skills Advisers who can help you strengthen your study strategies.

Many students find these resources meet their learning needs. However, if you feel you would benefit from additional support, please contact the disability service to discuss your options.

The University’s team of Academic Skills Advisers provide advice, guidance and resources to help develop and enhance individual academic and practical skills for success at university and beyond.

This support covers a range of topics, including:

• time management
• note-taking and effective learning
• grammar and punctuation
• reading skills
• critical thinking
• exams and revision
• giving presentations
• referencing and avoiding plagiarism
• interpreting feedback
  reflective thinking
• writing essays, reports and dissertations
• your Personal Development Plan (PDP)

Current students can find out more and arrange a one-to one appointment with an Academic Skills Adviser.

UWS provides a range of assistive and productivity tools to help all students study effectively and build the skills needed to succeed. These tools can be especially helpful for students with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, or dyspraxia.

TextAid

UWS students have free access to TextAid, a versatile tool designed to support reading, writing, and concentration.

Features include:

• Listening to any text on screen
• Use across multiple devices
• Proofreading support
• Text annotation
• Translation tools
• Word prediction
• Spell checking

TextAid can support reading fluency, working memory, and written expression.

Inspiration

Students also have free access to Inspiration, a visual thinking tool that helps with organising ideas and improving understanding. It’s especially useful for learners who benefit from visual approaches to processing information. 

Microsoft Accessibility Tools

All students at the University of the West of Scotland have access to a Microsoft 365 account, which includes powerful tools like Outlook, Word, Excel, OneNote, and Teams. 

Microsoft 365 offers a range of built-in accessibility features that can support students with disabilities, specific learning difficulties, and other access needs.

These tools can help with reading, writing, organisation, and concentration.

• Typing support – Use the Dictate feature to speak your ideas and have them typed out for you
• Reading support – The Immersive Reader helps with visual stress, concentration, and reading comprehension
• Spelling and grammar – Built-in tools help you check and improve your writing: Check grammar, spelling, and more in Word
• And more – Explore all accessibility tools for Word

Apple Accessibility Features

Apple offers a wide range of built-in accessibility tools designed to support users across its devices. These features can assist with vision, hearing, mobility, learning, and cognitive needs, helping users engage more easily with technology.

You can explore Apple’s accessibility options—including VoiceOver, Speak Screen, Guided Access, Switch Control, and more.

Using Generative AI

For more information on the use of Generative AI tools please read University guidance.

Counselling

The Counselling Team at UWS is here to support your mental and emotional wellbeing. Whether you're going through a challenging time or simply want to make the most of your university experience, we're here to help.

SilverCloud – Online Mental Wellbeing Support

SilverCloud is a secure and confidential online platform offering self-guided courses to help improve your mental wellbeing. Designed by clinical experts and supported by the NHS and Scottish Government, SilverCloud provides tools to help you manage challenges such as stress, anxiety, and low mood.

SilverCloud is:

• Secure and private
• Supportive and clinically backed
• Free from stigma
• Flexible, allowing you to work through courses at your own pace

It’s completely free to use and available to anyone in Scotland—all you need is an email address to sign up.

Use access code: NHS24

We aim to make our campus inclusive and welcoming to all and offer a range of facilities and services to support disabled staff, students and visitors including:

• Mobility friendly buildings – we have ramps, automatic doors and wide hallways across campus buildings to facilitate wheelchair access
• Accessible restrooms and parking – we have designated accessible restrooms on campus and parking spaces near all main facilities
• Clear signage and maps – clearer signage with larger print is now in place on all of our campuses to facilitate easier movement  
• Quiet rooms and rest areas – we have established quiet rooms and sanctuary spaces on campus
• Evacuation chairs and accessible furniture for classrooms
• Dedicated shower and wet room facilities  
• Staff training – we train our staff in best practice to ensure our service provision is inclusive
• Feedback mechanisms – we enable student residents to provide feedback on accessibility issues and have simple and easy-to-follow processes for requesting new accommodation or adaptations
• SafeZone – we have a digital app to connect with our support services which is free to download.

DSA provides funding to support disabled students in further or higher education who may face additional study-related costs due to their disability. It is designed to help remove barriers to learning and ensure equal access to education.

UWS aims to provide substantial support to disabled students. For example, if lecture notetaking is a challenge, we can request that lecturers provide recorded lectures or advance materials.

Only when additional support is needed beyond what the university can reasonably provide will a DSA application be pursued.

Support Costs DSA Covers

DSA can fund support that is directly related to your studies and necessary due to your disability. This may include:

• Specialist equipment
• Assistive software
• Non-medical personal helpers
• Travel costs (only available where there is documented evidence a student is unable to use public transport)
• Other disability-related
•  study support

What DSA Does Not Cover

DSA does not cover costs that all students are likely to incur, such as:

• Books and stationery
• Standard IT equipment
• General living costs (e.g. rent, food, utilities)

For help with living costs, please visit the Funding pages to explore other financial support options available to students.

Applying for DSA

To apply for DSA, you must:

1. Provide evidence of your disability, this can be from a recognised health or mental health professional, or an Educational Psychologist etc.
2. Complete a Needs Assessment, which is carried out by one of our Disability Advisers. This assessment identifies the barriers you may face in your studies and recommends support to address them.

You can discuss DSA with a disability adviser.