learning difficulties (SpLD)

Student Services can support you with a diagnosis, whether you just need an updated post 16 report or have never been diagnosed before. You can do the pre-assessment on their website. The cost of screening and assessment is subsidised by the University. The most recently published cost to students is £30.00 for the screening and £70.00 for the Educational Psychologist or Psychiatrist assessment. This is then usually reimbursed to you if you are diagnosed, if you are a UK student, through DSA (Disabled Support Allowance – A bursary to help you with your studies).

If you have a positive initial screening shortly before an assessment deadline, ask if you can be provided with appropriate adjustments immediately, while you are waiting for an appointment with an educational psychologist.

Student Sevices can provide you with a wealth of support. You will have to disclose your disability to them and provide evidence and they will give you the option not to tell your school of study or anyone else in the university. Student Services are a separate department and will not disclose your information to anyone without your consent. 

All students who provide an up-to-date assessment of Dyslexia, or a diagnosis of Dyspraxia or AD(H)D are eligible for extra time in timed tests and exams with a substantial amount of reading or writing. The extra time awarded will be determined by the diagnostic report you provide Student Services with (e.g. Educational Psychologist's report or other medical evidence). The university will also put in place other concessions such as Reader, Scribe, use of a PC, or coloured paper for exam script and answer booklet if these concessions are supported in your diagnostic report.

Be aware an assessment or adjustments are not automatically transferred over from your A-Levels. You have to let Student Services know that you had adjustments for previous study, ideally with the most recent report you have, when you arrive at UEA, even if you have disclosed a disability in your application.

You can apply for DSA to cover some of the extra costs you have because of a mental health problem, long term illness or any other disability. You can get the allowances on top of your other student finance loans. You won’t need to repay DSA. How much you get depends on your individual needs - not your household income.

You can check what you DSA you could get here: https://www.gov.uk/disabled-students-allowances-dsas

These figures given are the maximum amounts - most students get less.

You can get help with the costs of:

• specialist equipment, for example a computer if you need one because of your disability
• non-medical helpers (for example a scribe or note taker)
• extra travel because of your disability
• other disability-related costs of studying
• special software

You may get a new computer if you don’t already have one, or if your current computer does not meet the required specification. More information will be provided to you if you’re assessed as needing a new computer. You’ll need to pay the first £200, which is the minimum cost that any student is likely to incur when buying a computer.