Disabled students make up over 19% of University of Manchester students and the Disability Advisory and Support Service (DASS) supports students by providing practical support by working with you to identify the practical adjustments you need to enable you to succeed – in your studies, work, and the rest of your University experience.
Who do DASS Support?
We know that not everyone who uses the DASS service thinks of themselves as disabled. We use the term ‘disability’ as it’s used in Equality Law.
This legislation states that the definition of disability is any condition which has a significant, adverse and long-term effect on a person’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.
DASS see students with a range of difficulties including, but not limited to:
- autism spectrum condition (ASC)
- dyslexia, dyspraxia and other specific learning difficulties;
- mental health difficulties;
- mobility impairments;
- sensory impairments;
- unseen disabilities like epilepsy, HIV, AIDS and chronic fatigue.
What Support Can I get?
Exams Support including
- Extra time
- Rest Breaks
- Toilet Breaks
Study Support including
- Assistive software
- Support from teaching staff
- Library support
- Equipment
- Human Support
- Skills for learning
Other Ways DASS can help
- Accommodation
- Personal care
- Travel
- Car Parking
- Getting out in an emergency
How do I get Support?
If you are already registered with DASS and would like to discuss a change in your circumstances and the support available to you on the Programme, you should contact your DASS Advisor
Who will be told about my disability?
DASS won’t tell anybody about you contacting or registering with the Disability Advisory and Support Service, unless you give them permission to.
If you do want support though, they might have to tell some people to be able to put it in place, but this is only with your consent.
If you register with the Disability Advisory and Support Service, this won’t be added to your degree certificate, and we won’t tell you future employers. Your information is confidential. You can also find out more about how DASS process your data on their data collection notice.
We do recommend that you give permission to share your DASS plan with your Clinical Education Campus to ensure consistent care and support across all years of your programme.
Please be aware that there are deadlines throughout the year for putting assessment support in place. Details of these deadlines can be found on 1Med Info.
If you have a disability or think that you may have a disability and are not yet registered with DASS and need some advice, please do not hesitate to get in touch with the School’s Disability Coordinator, Karen Ross email: sms.dc@manchester.ac.uk for a confidential discussion.
If you think you might be dyslexic, book online onto one of DASS’s weekly workshops to find out more. Dyslexia affects around 10% of the population and is often hereditary. Dyslexia affects the way individuals process, store and retrieve information. Students with Dyslexia may experience difficulties with memory, organisation, time-management, sequencing, reading and writing.
Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) Study Needs Assessment
There has been a nationwide change to how the Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSA) assessments are being delivered, which will affect the way you access this service and as a consequence, the University of Manchester Assessment Centre has had to cease operations.
Whilst DASS are no longer able to carry out these assessments, they can assist you to navigate the process. University of Manchester students can contact:
- dass@manchester.ac.uk
- 0161 275 7512
To access a study needs assessment, you will need to contact your funding body for advice (such as Student Finance England or Wales)
How do I get in touch with DASS?
DASS is on the second floor of University Place on Oxford Road and is open 10am-4pm Monday to Friday and the University of Manchester Assessment Centre is open 9am-4pm Monday to Friday.
You can also contact DASS by telephone and email.
Tel (Disability Service) +44 (0)161 275 7512
Tel (Assessment Centre) +44 (0)161 275 0990
Mobile Number (Text only for d/Deaf students) 07899 658 790
Email (Disability Service) dass@manchester.ac.uk
Email (Assessment Centre) assessments@manchester.ac.uk