How The Open University supports students with disabilities

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How The Open University supports students with
disabilities

• Geraldine Smith
• November 2004
• The Open University Library and Learning
  Resources Centre

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Disability statistics Sept 2004

• Number studying - 10,141
• Total in Scotland 837
• Most common recorded disabilities
• Fatigue/pain
• Mobility
• Manual skills
• Mental health
• Dyslexia

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Support Structure

• Disabled Student Services
• Centre for Assistive Technology and Enabling
  Research (CATER)
• Office for Students with Disabilities
• Alternative formats
• Auxiliary aids and services i.e. equipment loans
• Regional Centres
• Associate Lecturers

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Regional Centres

• 13 Regional Centres covering UK (incl Northern
  Ireland) and Ireland
• First point of contact for many students
• Disability Advisers in each region provide
  specialist support
• Assistant Disability Advisors in Scotland for
  outreach work

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Disability Advisers

• Advice and guidance
• DSA
• Dyslexia screening and workshops
• Access audit exam and study centres
• Special exam arrangements

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Office for Students with Disabilities

• Tutorial and residential school support
• Specialist equipment loans
• Audio Recording Centre
• Accessible course material comb bound, large
  print, pdfs, audio cassettes, CD-Roms, tactile
  diagrams and ReadOut

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CATER

• DSA needs assessment at Access Centre
• Technology training
• Access Centre, Milton Keynes
• Access Bus
• Research and development (incl curriculum) with
  other OU departments
• http//www.open.ac.uk/cater

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Tutors

• Often main point of contact for student
• Ascertain how to best support student in their
  studies
• Contact appropriate OU department or point
  student in right direction

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Learners Guide Services for disabled students

• Consideration of study needs
• Services available for particular disabilities
• Course materials in alternative formats
• Frequently Asked Questions
• http//www3.open.ac.uk/learners-guide/disability/i
  ndex.htm

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Additional Support

• OUSA Enabled students group
• Open Links newsletter
• Close links with RNIB and RNID

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Library Support

• Physical Library
• Students at a distance
• Learner Support team contact via phone, email,
  web chat and minicom

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Open Library

• Open Library at a Glance virtual tour
• Over 100 databases 9,000 ejournals and growing
  number ebooks.
• Helpsheets
• Interactive information skills tutorial SAFARI

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Additional services provided

• Mediated literature searching
• Postal loans to postgraduate and third level
  course housebound disabled students
• Links to web sites providing resources in
  accessible formats