What is a better way to kick off Disability History Month than to infodump all the stuff I have gathered about being disabled at Bath?

For accessibility and ease of use, I am using a lot of subtitles so you can just ctrl+F your way to what you need, as well as splitting up text because visual stress is a true Horror.

WHAT ARE MY RIGHTS AT UNIVERSITY?

If you want to see all your rights at University, then we have a super page about it over on our campaigns tab. But specifically for disabled students:

• You have the right to receive appropriate support and adjustments (Equality Act 2010, Disabled Students Policy).
• You have the right to be treated equally (Equality Act 2010)
• You have the right to take a break from your studies
• You have the right to an Academic Advisor (previously called a Personal Tutor)

If you need more info, I have a blog post about disability access plans (DAPs) that covers how you get one, what’s in one, what you should do with it, and what you can do if it isn’t adhered to.

I also have a blog post about personal tutors/academic advisors – how to find our who yours is, what you can talk to them about, when you meet them, and how to change yours.

HOW CAN I GET AROUND UNIVERSITY?

If you have any physical access needs, AccessAble has surveyed all of campus and has very detailed guides – including photos, measurements, and all things in between.

As for sensory needs, I have a post on quiet spaces on campus, and previous community officer Blake has a post on confirmed quiet spaces/times!

There is also set to be a display in the library foyer about all the bits and bobs the accessibility committee (which I sit on!) have been doing to make campus more accessible, so watch this space!

WHAT SERVICES CAN I ACCESS AT UNIVERSITY?

• The Disability Service – for all things specialist advice including reasonable adjustments
• Student Support – for wellbeing and welfare
• Autism Social Group – a fortnightly social group which you don’t need a formal diagnosis for
• Campus Buddies – for new students with ASC, social anxiety, or social phobia, this is a buddying scheme that links you up with someone to show you around Uni

WHAT SERVICES ARE LOCAL TO BATH?

If you are under 25, you can get help via Off The Record, and for us older folk, you can access BaNES talking therapies for non-urgent support.

CAN I GET EXTRA MONEY/FUNDING?

Absolutely bestie.

If you haven’t already, make sure to put in an application for Disabled Students Allowance – although you wont see money directly from this, DSA can help you with:

• Specialist equipment support
• Non-medical helper support
• General support related to your disability (e.g., printing)
• Travel costs

I find the Disability Rights UK page a great resource for this!

If you need extra money to live (as being disabled adds about £570 extra in living costs a month), you can claim Personal Independence Payment (PIP) as a student. I will disclaim that a lot of disabled folks will preach that this is an intense process – as you have to detail how your disability affects you over a lot of areas, but the Citizens Advice website is a gorgeous resource for this