Additional Support and Disability Advice Centre (ASDAC)

Supporting your role as a personal tutor

The Additional Support and Disability Advice Centre (ASDAC) can provide advice and guidance to your tutees if they have disclosed a disability or specific learning difference that may adversely impact on their ability to access the campus, curriculum, teaching, learning, assessments and any other student-focused service. The term ‘Disability’ covers medical conditions as well as mental health, autism, physical and sensory differences. The term ‘Specific Learning Difference’ includes Dyslexia or Dyspraxia.

If your tutee has additional academic support needs, it is likely that they have already registered with ASDAC and have the necessary adjustments in place (see here for guidance on available reports detailing disclosed disability and adjustments such as exam provisions). However, if in discussion it appears that your tutee has not disclosed a disability (or it is only now becoming apparent), you should advise your tutee to approach ASDAC who can offer:

• Confidential advice from disability professionals
• Advice on funding to cover disability-related support costs (including disabled students’ allowances)
• Discussion and agreement on appropriate reasonable adjustments
• Referral to other University services and facilities
• Strategies for note-taking, mentoring and other academic support services
• Specialist study skills and assistive technology tuition
• Referral for diagnosis or to obtain medical evidence

Your tutee may wish to contact the Student Finance Centre to see if they can assist with any additional cost associated with a diagnostic assessment.

Who can use ASDAC?

Students who have disclosed a disability and/or specific learning difference at application or during their study (see link below for the definition of disability), or who at any stage of their studies consider that they might have a previously unrecognised or developing condition.

Resources

• FAQs: Information for staff
• Guidelines For Unit Coordinators And Tutors
• University definition of ‘disabled’