Disabled students taking science degrees.

studentphil

Speaking to other disabled students it seems lecturers can be frightened of disabled students and think disabledservices should do it all.

studentphil

It goes without saying he will declare his disability on UCAS so schools should be able to plan for him in lots of time. Would a uni be able to say your disability really stops him doing the course and so they wont take him?

misskool

Nope, they are not allowed. They should have the facilities to accomodate him or they should try to accomodate him.
His LEA should help him out with any extra expenses if required and most unis will have some allowances/bursaries to help out if any extra help (carer, note taker, reader, etc) are required to complete the course.
Labs are a requirement for a science course. I know a few who have done degrees without going to any labs by choosing all the options of writing essays and computer modelling but it's boring. Lab work, in my slightly biased opinion, is fun.

Before he applies through UCAS, perhaps he can ring the admissions office of the unis he is interested in and visit them before applying? Then he can see which ones are most receptive and helpful and will ensure he can perform the best at academically?

studentphil

At my place it took the school 2 years to work out someone was disabled even though it was declared on UCAS and written on personal tutor forms. THe school did not see he had any problems until he was getting really poor marks and then after that they were still not right forthcoming with help. That was in te arts though not sciences.

cupid_s

what uni are you at phil? and what uni's are your disabled friend looking at going to?

studentphil

cupid_stunt wrote:

what uni are you at phil? and what uni's are your disabled friend looking at going to?

Leeds - me
Him- Essex, Exeter, some in wales.

cupid_s

I know the science department at leeds is really good with disabled students. The lecturers are really understanding and special helpers are provided to aid in practical classes and with note taking etc.

He'd be well looked after, maybe its worth him trying at Leeds.

studentphil

He has had a look at Bradford as they are really big on disabled students.

The one worry I would have for Leeds there are so many steps and there are access issues to some of the lecture rooms

cupid_s

there are so many steps. but everywhere you can get to without having to use the steps. At one point i had problems with my knees and couldn't go upstairs and i managed ok.

Most of the lecture rooms are ok for disabled sutdents. And they're very good at worknig things so if a module has a disabled student registered they'll put those lectures in accessible rooms.

studentphil

cupid_stunt wrote:

there are so many steps. but everywhere you can get to without having to use the steps. At one point i had problems with my knees and couldn't go upstairs and i managed ok.

Are you at Leeds then?

That bit about the timetable taking account of the disabled students on modules does not happen in my experience.
I know it should but it has not happened to people I know and there are issues of them not being able to get to the class.