Disability Services operates within the Centre for Innovation in Learning and Teaching (CILT) in the department Student Academic Development and Support (SADS) and provides support to students with disabilities within the university. Support services include providing advice and facilitating academic accommodations, in collaborative partnerships with students' university lecturers, departments, and faculty.

We consist of a team of professionals who provide the following support to students with disabilities:

• Confidential consultation sessions.
• Concession (e.g., extra-time, use of assistive devices, venues, etc.) application for tests/exams.
• Test and exam arrangements.
• Training, assistance and advice regarding assistive hardware and software.
• Assistive devices and technology at the Disability Lab
• Working with lecturers, residence, campus health, etc. to best support these students.
• Support with Disability bursary applications.
• Access to study material in alternative formats (braille, audio, electronic text)

Bursaries

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme provides bursaries for students with disabilities. This bursary programme is aimed at providing financial support for students with disabilities who are academically able and need financial support. It is intended to open opportunities for study in further and higher education and to provide the necessary additional teaching and learning support for students to overcome any barriers to learning when trying to access the curriculum.

Assistive technology

We are pleased to offer several different assistive devices to students to support their academic development.

Hardware

• Large-screen computer monitors for visually impaired students.
• Scanners– to enable students to scan their work and save it in document or audio format.
• Magnifiers– for visually impaired students.
• Braille embosser–for blind students and staff to convert documents into Braille.
• Special large-font keyboards for visually impaired students (in yellow and black, or black and white keyboards).
• Digital recorders– for students with physical challenges to enable them to record lectures and write notes at a later stage and at their own pace.

Software

1. Jaws for windows: Powerful screen reading software that allows blind people to obtain optimal use of their computers.
2. ZoomText: A software programme for visually impaired people that magnifies the desktop to the required level, in order to be able to navigate on-screen. It also has a screen reading speech facility for easier navigation.
3. Dragon: For people with physical impairment or learning disabilities to convert spoken word into written format.