University Led and DSA Support

As explained in Step 1: Meet your Advisor, the university will provide reasonable adjustments to enable you to get the most from your studies. The type of support will depend on your needs but examples of reasonable adjustments are: 

• Lecture notes / slides in advance
• Course materials in alternative format (page colour / format etc.)
• Permission to record lectures or access to recordings
• Timetabling adjustments to ensure your classes are accessible
• Presentation adjustments (for example, to smaller groups)
• Support arrangements for practical sessions, trips and visits

Some students will have specific exam adjustments including:

• Extra time
• Rest breaks
• Scribe / Reader
• Prompt
• Exam paper in alternative / accessible format
• Use of computer with assistive software or equipment.

This is not an exhaustive list so if you feel you need additional support or have concerns over assessments please discuss this with an Advisor. They will be able to negotiate further adjustments with your course where needed.

There are a range of assistive software programmes which are available on all University computers. These can help with reading, researching, planning and structuring your work and proofreading.

If you are recommended a support worker as a reasonable adjustment or as part of your DSA provision we can arrange this for you. Support workers can work with you across campus and can facilitate your learning by providing:

• Note taking in lectures
• Orientation and mobility support
• Access  support to university facilities, e.g. library

• Assistance in laboratory or practical sessions
• Exam support – scribe / reader / prompt
• Attend trips or placement
• Help you to implement the strategies you develop in your specialist support sessions

All our Tutors have specialist post-graduate qualifications in understanding dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (SpLDs) and are registered with a leading professional organisation. This enables our Tutors to provide our students with a high quality, student focused and personalised service.

All Specialist Study Skills Tutors are fully trained as Assistive Technology Trainers and are able to fully incorporate the common hardware and software support supplied as part of their DSA in the individual sessions.

We focus on your individual needs and learning preferences. The sessions are not subject specific, so you will not look at course content. In your sessions you may work on:

• Organisational skills: including time management and assignment planning 
• Developing writing skills: including academic, critical and reflective
• Note-taking
• Reading skills
• Improving memory
• Exam skills : including revision techniques and comprehending questions
• Understanding how you learn best
• Demonstrating and using specialist software to help you become independent users

Please note: we do not offer a proofreading service.

We offer a free two day Transition Event designed to help autistic students settle into university life. It is an opportunity find out about the expectations and demands of studying and to make some friends before you start. It is run by the Wellbeing Team and our Transition Ambassadors, who are current students with autism spectrum conditions.

It is also a good opportunity to learn about the support we can provide when you begin your studies. The event covers the following aspects of university life:

• Meet a member of your academic school and learn about your course
• Orientation on campus
• Familiarisation with the new environments you will be studying in
• Developing your social skills and meeting other students
• Meeting the support team
• Understanding what university is really like
• Hear from current autistic students about their experience
• Learn about living in halls  including an overnight stay 
• Begin your transition to independent living

If you have told us about your condition through UCAS we will invite you to this event over the summer. It is normally held a few weeks before term begins. If you have not heard from us and would like to attend please contact us for more details.

Specialist Mentors offer one to one assistance and advice with the social, communication and emotional needs of autistic students at university. You can meet your mentor to discuss problem solving in a number of areas, for example:

• Support for managing unstructured time
• Support with social and communication skills 
• Advocacy and liaison support
• Support your access to external facilities 
• Travel training
• How to stay safe at university
• Independent living skills

Cardiff Met Wellbeing Service have Specialist Mentors who offer one to one assistance and advice with managing the demands of your studies. For example, they will help you to identify and implement strategies to manage your mental health. This might be around stress, deadlines, unstructured time, anxiety triggers or condition related symptoms. This is a student-centred service focused on helping monitor your progress, develop your skills and build your confidence.