Disability: Resources & Support

People with impairments experience different disabling barriers and universities can provide a range of support and adjustments to remove or mitigate the effects of the barrier. This can be done on an individual level, or by anticipating barriers, universities can remove barriers in advance for all students and staff. It is therefore essential that everyone is aware of universities' responsibility to provide accessible and inclusive services and to provide 'reasonable adjustments' for students and staff.  

To help ensure we do our best to continuously support our students and staff with disabilities, we have joined the Disability Confident scheme as an employer who is Disability Confident Committed. The commitments we have signed up to as part of this scheme are as follows:  

• inclusive and accessible recruitment  

• communicating vacancies  

• offering an interview to disabled people  

• providing reasonable adjustments  

• supporting existing employees  

Our work as an employer who is Disability Confident Committed is supported by collaboration and consultation with our Disability Staff Network and Disabled Students Network, as we work to centre lived experience in our efforts to create a more inclusive campus environment.   

The Sunflower Scheme 

One core initiative in fostering an inclusive culture for St Mary’s disabled staff and students is our participation in the Sunflower Scheme. Launched by our Disability Staff Network, SMSU, Widening Participation, and Student Services, the scheme allows staff and students with hidden disabilities to discreetly indicate to people around them that they might need additional support, help, or a little more time. Staff and students are able to pick up a sunflower lanyard, bracelet, or badge from student services, registry, the student's union, HR  and main reception. Staff and students who would like to find out more information about the Sunflower Scheme at St Mary’s may do so by accessing our Moodle page.  

Disability Confident 

The Disability Confident scheme supports employers to make the most of the talents disabled people can bring to their workplace. Disability Confident employers of all sizes are: 

• challenging attitudes towards disability
• increasing understanding of disability
• removing barriers to disabled people and those with long-term health conditions
• ensuring that disabled people have the opportunities to fulfil their potential and realise their aspirations 

St Mary’s is currently at Level 1: Disability Confident Committed, having joined the scheme in November 2020. As part of this commitment, St Mary’s is launching a pilot partnership with EvenBreak to conduct more targeted job recruitment for disabled applicants, and has also implemented a policy that requires hiring managers to offer an interview to candidates who disclose a disability and meet the minimum job requirements. As our work continues within the scheme, we will continue making improvements to our policies and practices to embed an inclusive culture for community members with disabilities.  

More information on our work with the Sunflower Scheme and Disability Confident can be found on our Disability Confident and Disability Inclusion page.

What do I do if I have, or think I have a disability at St Mary's? 

Our Student Wellbeing Service offers confidential advice and support to students who have support requirements as a result of a recognised disability, mental health condition, specific learning difference (such as dyslexia, ADHD, and dyspraxia), medical condition(s) or a temporary disability, such as injury. We have over 900 students registered with our service at St Mary's University so you won't be the only one! You can self-refer for disability and dyslexia support here from a phone or computer. For more information on the ways we can provide support, or how we provide that support, visit our Disability and Dyslexia Support page. 

Careers Support 

Employability Services, through the Careers Service and Centre for Workplace Learning, also offers support and careers advice for students with disabilities, a long-term health condition or a specific learning difference. If your programme has the option to undertake a workplace learning module we can support with finding placements through our relationships with local employers. To learn more, visit our Workplace Learning Moodle pages We can also help with finding disability confident employers and engaging with them positively for example how to disclose. We also have the Employability Confident programme to support employability development for students with disabilities. To find out more and book an appointment please visit our Careers Service Moodle page. 

Additional resources

• Seek support from a trained counsellor in our Student Wellbeing Service. 
• Seek support from a member of our St Mary's Student Union student officer team. 

We have several options for staff members with disabilities who are seeking advice and support, one of which is applying to Access to Work. Staff seeking wellbeing support are encouraged to reach out to one of our trained St Mary’s Mental Health First Aiders or our 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme. Both of these services are confidential and available to all St Mary’s staff. For more information on the ways we can provide support, visit our Support for Staff Who Have Disabilities page. For line managers looking for guidance as to how best support employees who have disabilities, visit our Guidance for Managers on Supporting Staff with Disabilities page. 

We also invite you to join St Mary’s Disability Staff Network - devoted to improving the experience of disabled staff at the University.   

Finally, our Dignity at Work Statement and Dignity at Work Policy provide additional support for staff.

• Citizens Advice – Disability discrimination Citizens Advice is a national charity which offers support and advice to individuals concern regarding: discrimination, employment, debt and money, housing, immigration and other legal matters.  
• Disability Rights UK Disability Rights UK has a disabled students' helpline, which offers advice to disabled students studying in England. They also campaign to improve disabled people's rights and to tackle hostility, bullying and hate crime. 
• Mencap Mencap offers fantastic support for students with learning disabilities  
• Scope Scope is a charity which offers support and services for individuals with disability and their families. Scope is an advocate for equality and offers their assistance to employers to help them recruit and support disabled staff. 
• Action on Hearing Loss (formerly RNID) Action on Hearing Loss is dedicated to eliminating barriers for individuals who have hearing loss, they offer support, training and other services to achieve their goal of a world inclusive of individuals with hearing difficulties. 
• British Dyslexia Association British Dyslexia Association seeks to promote a dyslexia friendly society, inclusive of individuals of all age groups.  

Ted Talk Resources:  

• I'm not your inspiration, thank you very much | Stella Young 
• The Discrimination You've Never Heard Of | Alan Raskin | TEDxAllendaleColumbiaSchool