Are UK universities doing enough to support disabled students?
Are UK universities doing enough to support disabled students? In short, no.
A 2024 survey by Disabled Students UK found that only 37% of disabled students feel they have the adjustments they need to study on an equal footing with their non-disabled peers. This figure is a stark reminder of how far the higher education sector still needs to go for disabled students to reach equity in their education.
There are lots of reasons why students don’t always get the support they need. Common issues include:
- Staff not fully trained to understand or deliver reasonable adjustments.
- Students not knowing what support is available or how to access it.
- Delays and overly complex processes for applying.
- Inconsistent decision-making across departments.
- Stigma and ableism still being a problem in some places.
My story
These barriers became very real for me during my final semester of university in 2021. Out of nowhere, I had an ischemic stroke.
It was a complete shock – to me, my family, and my doctors. I was healthy, active and not under much stress. But in the blink of an eye, everything changed.
You can read more about the day I suffered my stroke and the after-effects in the Different Strokes newsletter found here.
After spending time in hospital, learning to walk again and going through intensive neuro-physiotherapy, I returned to university about two months later. I’d missed almost all of four modules, so I had to catch up by listening to recorded lectures and working on my own.
I was still recovering though, and had ongoing symptoms like:
- Constant fatigue and difficulty concentrating
- Visual disturbance (pixelation) in my left eye
- Limited movement in my left hand (which made typing hard)
- Reduced movement in my left leg.
My friend contacted the university the day after my stroke, and once I was discharged, I followed up with letters from my consultant and my physiotherapist. In March, just a month after the stroke, I applied for Reasonable Adjustments Plan (RAP) asking for 25% extra time to help with typing and fatigue.
My request was denied. I was told the deadline had already passed – at the beginning of March.
Despite my stroke having been a medical emergency, I was met with repeated refusals from the wellbeing centre and disability services. It took several emails – including to the vice chancellor and head of law – before the university finally agreed to give me the extra time and consider my situation under extenuating circumstances.
Even then, when results came out in July, I was told I’d narrowly missed a First (by less than 2%) and that wasn’t “close enough” for my extenuating circumstances to be taken into account.
I appealed. The appeal guidance said I could only challenge a decision if the university hadn’t known about my situation – but they had. Still, I pressed on.
Finally, in January 2022 – after months of back and forth – I was awarded a First-Class degree.
What did I learn?
Applying for reasonable adjustments was far more difficult than it should have been. The whole process was stressful, confusing and inconsistent. There was no clear guidance about what I could apply for, who to speak to, or how to appeal, and arbitrary deadlines which made no sense.
Different departments handled things differently. Some handed out RAPs or extensions with no issue. Others (like mine) needed endless follow-ups with multiple teams just to confirm I was entitled to basic help after a serious medical event.
The bottom line? If reasonable adjustments aren’t accessible, then they’re not truly reasonable. And that means students are being excluded – just when they need support the most.
Top tips for getting reasonable adjustments or extenuating circumstances
- Do your research. Find out what support is available – like extra time, extended deadlines, note-takers, permission to record classes, or exam scribes/readers.
- Apply anyway. Don’t be put off by deadlines. Universities have a legal duty to make sure you’re not at a disadvantage.
- Talk to someone in person. If you can, speak to someone face-to-face – it’s harder to say no than write it in an email – and find a tutor or lecturer who will advocate for you.
- Don’t give up. It might feel like a fight, but it’s worth it. Your degree is important -and expensive. You deserve an equal chance to succeed.
