Disabled Learners Project

 

Disabled Learners Project is for young people with SEND needs who are interested in higher education. The project supports young people to find out about higher education, the financial and non financial support available to disabled students through an in-school workshop and a campus visit. The aim of the project is to demonstrate that disabled students can be supported in higher education.

 

In-school workshop

The in-school workshop focuses on what higher education is, the benefits of it, how much it costs and the financial support, including disabled students allowance (DSA), available. The young people learn the terminology used in higher education and how it is different to school and college. They are introduced to examples of disabilities, the social model of disability and neurodiversity. To finish the workshop, the young people match up example prospective SEND students with the appropriate higher education option for their needs, support, and course interests.

 

Campus Visit

The campus visit enables the students to experience a campus visit with Student Ambassadors, meet a therapy dog, hear from a Disability Practitioner at York St John University from the Disability and Inclusion team about university disability support, and learn about how student accommodation can be accessible. At the end of the experience, the young people then reflect on what they have learnt and feed this into a poster that will be displayed in the school or college for other young people to see.

Project Lead

Jess Ely leads on this project. You can contact Jess at j.ely@yorksj.ac.uk.