Southampton Solent University's Disability Advice Team provides disability and neurodiversity advice for current students and prospective students (applicants). We can advise on support available at university to remove barriers to learning and enable students to develop as an independent learner.
Support at Solent: disability advice service
You are encouraged to declare any:
- specific learning difficulties (for example, dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADD, ADHD),
- chronic or long term medical conditions (for example, chronic pain, epilepsy, ME, MS, HIV, cancer, diabetes),
- physical or sensory impairments (for example, brain injury, partially sighted, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy),
- mental health conditions (for example, anxiety, depression, eating disorders), and
- autistic spectrum declarations (for example, Aspergers).
Students with disabilities can access a range of support services:
- Advice and guidance about academic support.
- Access to academic support (eg, support plan, exam arrangements).
- Screening and advice on obtaining diagnostic evidence.
- Advice about Disabled Students Allowance (DSA).
- Liaising with course teams about reasonable adjustments and support.
- Assistive technology, workshops and equipment loans.
Setting up support
You are encouraged to share your diagnosis and support needs with the Disability Advice Team. This is so we can advise about your next steps and support available at the University. Email the completed disability advice consent form and Solent summary of support needs to disability@solent.ac.uk. The team will then email your next steps.
Download the disability advice consent form
Download the Solent summary of support needs form
Disabled Students Allowance (DSA)
Students with a disability may be eligible for additional funding. This funding is to help with any additional costs that may occur as a result of disability. To find out more, visit our bursary page or our Solent Online Learning page.
Independent living skills
Coming to university is an exciting opportunity. It is important you have support in place if required, as students are otherwise expected to be independent in their daily living and studies. Consider if you need support in these areas as Solent University is not able to provide this support:
- Personal care (washing, dressing, toileting, eating, shopping, cooking, accessing the community).
- Equipment (mobility, personal care, personal safety).
- Travel (including around the city, to and from your home address).
- Accessing medical care and appointments (ensuring any healthcare remains in place or is transferred to Southampton, access to medication).
Contact your GP, home social care, or NHS team to explore setting up any of this support for university. This support needs to be in place before you start your studies.
Occupational Health assessments and referrals
If you feel you would benefit from an Occupational Health assessment to support you to continue to access your course, please contact us and we will arrange a meeting with you and your course team to discuss further, including reviewing your university support plan and academic support. If required, course teams process referrals to an appropriate occupational health provider.
Other support
Accommodation: If you wish to discuss your accommodation needs while at university, please contact the Accommodation Team at accommodation@solent.ac.uk. They will be happy to offer you guidance and advice.
Assistance dogs: Anyone with an assistance dog must follow Solent University's policy before arranging to bring a dog into University venues.
Southampton Shopmobility provides wheelchairs and scooters to people with mobility difficulties, enabling them to access the city centre independently. Manual wheelchairs, electric wheelchairs, and electric scooters are available to hire Monday to Saturday between the hours of 9.15am and 4.45pm.
AccessAble is a national scheme that provides access guides for venues, including in Southampton. Photos, maps, descriptions, and routes are available and can support you to plan your visit.
Contact us
If you have any questions about support at university, take a look at the Disability Advice Team's pages on Solent Online Learning, or email disability@solent.ac.uk.
