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Thrive in your studies
The Additional Support and Disability Advice Centre (ASDAC) can help you access specialist study skills and strategies tutors, assistive technology tutors and study skills resources.
Academic support
Support is available for your studies, including exams and assessments. Where appropriate, we will make reasonable adjustments to ensure you are given every opportunity to demonstrate your learning.
To arrange support, please contact the team to see if you are eligible by emailing asdac@port.ac.uk or calling 023 9284 3462.
Reasonable adjustments
Reasonable adjustments remove or minimise the challenges you experience as a student, allowing you to develop as an independent learner.
The adjustments you will have depend on your individual needs. Reasonable adjustments may include:
- Course materials in alternative formats
- Access to assistive technology
- Timetabling adjustments to help improve access
- Specialist support to develop study skills strategies
- Extra time during timed assessments
Exam adjustments
ASDAC can work with you and the academic department to provide reasonable adjustments at not only exam time but where appropriate throughout your studies.
This may include:
- extra time for formal assessments
- word-processing facilities
- rest breaks
- assistive technology
- alternative methods of assessment
For further information, see our policy on Adjustments for Disabled Students from our Examination and Assessment Regulations.
The University has an anonymous marking policy. So all students are assessed equally and this is based on the academic standards and outcomes of the course.
Specialist study skills and strategies
Specialist study skills and strategies sessions help you develop your own individual skills so you can work independently. The sessions take place on a one-to-one basis and you are encouraged to discuss the areas you wish to concentrate on with the support of the tutor. Workshops are also available.
These sessions will benefit Neuro-Divergent students, including those with Specific Learning Differences (SPLD) such as Dyslexia.
Feedback
If you would like to give feedback on the tuition you have received from Disability Advice, please use our specialist tuition feedback form.
From the very moment I set foot in Portsmouth, the entire Disability Advice team has been very supportive, giving me the necessary tools and directions, which in one way or another have enabled me to complete this course successfully. The fact that I have been able to complete the course alone is a miracle.
Frequently asked questions about academic support
Our specialist tuition cancellation process
To meet the DSA Quality Assurance Framework guidelines published by the Department for Education, we need to ensure you fully understand the cancellation process for specialist tuition.
The following is taken from the Participation Agreement signed and discussed with students during their first tutorial. We expect you to:
- provide at least 24 hours notice if you need to cancel a tutorial.
- contact us by telephone, in person or from your University email account.
Our opening hours are Monday to Thursday 8.30am – 5.00pm and on Friday, 8.30am – 4.00pm.
You can contact us on +44 (0)23 9284 3462 or email asdac@port.ac.uk for further advice
If you provide less than 24 hours notice:
The session will have to be recorded as Did Not Attend (DNA) and your funding authority charged for the missed session.
You will be need to provide a valid reason for the non-attendance by email from your university account. We understand that there are reasons for short notice but "I forgot" or "My lecture changed" are not valid reasons that your funding authority will accept.
Missing two or more appointments, with reasonable justification or not, will mean you are invited to discuss this with a member of our team. The discussion will enable you to explore ways of engaging with the support or something alternative if possible.
Providing medical or diagnostic evidence
It is best to let us know about your disability and how it affects your life at university as soon as possible. Any supporting information you provide will help us understand the impact this will have on your learning.
Supporting documentation (evidence) is not usually required to access reasonable adjustments, but it often provides helpful context to help us tailor support specific to your case.
Specific supporting documentation may be required in some cases, and we will request this from you if necessary. You can email supporting documentation to us at disabilityadvice@port.ac.uk.
This section details the processes for screening for Psychological Assessments for Specific Learning Differences and ADHD. This is to help you make an informed decision about whether to access a full assessment.
Please note that if you are not eligible for the Disabled Student Allowance or are unlikely to be able to complete an application before the end of your studies, then the University may not be able to offer funding for a full psychological assessment.
If you require additional support for your study (e.g. exam arrangements) at any time during your course, please contact disabilityadvice@port.ac.uk or call 023 9284 3462 to review the support available. We recommend contacting us at the earliest possible chance to ensure your support is in place.
Screening for Specific Learning Differences
Please click here for links to the screening for Specific Learning Differences.
- Go to the QuickScan questionnaire on this link. - https://quickscan.me.uk/QS24/PRTS/QSStart.htm
- Start the screening by entering a username - this should be your student number. You will be given another QuickScan number at the end of the test to share your results.
- Complete the questionnaire. This will take around 15-20 minutes to complete.
- Your results will be emailed to you or will be available to export as a PDF report from QuickScan, and can be accessed with the QuickScan number.
- If the report shows any indicators of dyslexia or dyspraxia, please contact Disability Advice, who can provide options for funding or accessing a full Psychological Assessment
- If you need to review your report, you can enter both your user ID and the Quickscan number on this link - https://quickscan.me.uk/QS24/PRTS/QSStart.htm
Screening for ADHD
- Go to the ADHD Screening Tool at this link https://adhduk.co.uk/adult-adhd-screening-survey/
- Complete the screening (both Section A & Section B) and download your report as a PDF for your use.
- If the screening shows any indicators of ADHD, then please contact and share the outcome with the Disability Advice team, who can provide options for funding or accessing a Psychological Assessment. This screening may also be shared with your GP, who may be able to refer you for an ADHD assessment via the medical route.
A letter from your doctor or a consultant confirming your disability, and how it affects you, your studies and everyday living. This may also be used by external funding bodies when you apply for additional disability related funding. The letter should:
- identify your condition, impairment or ongoing symptoms
- state whether the condition will be short or long term (over 12 months) and how it will impact your day-to-day activities as a student
- identify any medication and treatment, with any relevant side-effects
If you are looking to access additional academic support for a specific learning difference via the Disabled Students' Allowance, you will need a diagnostic assessment. The sooner you do this, the more likely all your support will be in place when you start your course.
You can get a private assessment through the following organisations:
- The British Psychological Society (BPS) – the BPS has an online directory of chartered psychologists you can use to find a psychologist local to you to assess your learning difference
- The British Dyslexia Association – their diagnostic assessment guide outlines the steps you will need to be assessed through their service
- The Professional Association of Teachers of Students with SpLDs (PATOSS) – their online directory can be filtered to show teachers near you
Other resources
Browse our ASDAC study resources on Moodle, and explore the resources below for more help, advice and support for your studies.
MS Office 365 voice-recognition and Speak text-to-speech
Voice recognition and Speak text-to-speech are built into the latest version of Microsoft Office.
Grammarly
A powerful spelling and grammar checking add-on to MS Office and your browser.
Present Pal
Presentation support app which acts as a set of interactive flashcards on your smartphone or tablet, fully integrated with Microsoft PowerPoint.
Specialist Mental Health Mentors
This short video tells you more about the role of a Specialist Mental Health Mentor at university.
Academic Phrasebank
The Academic Phrasebank provides support with phrasing for academic writing.
Assignment Survival Kit
The Assignment Survival Kit is a tool to help you plan backwards from deadlines.
My Study Life
My Study Life is an advance planner that includes rotation schedules, assignments, revision, exams.
Contact Disability Advice
- +44 (0)23 9284 3462
-
First Floor, University House, Winston Churchill Avenue, PO1 2UP
We are open Monday to Thursday 8.30am – 5.00pm and on Friday, 8.30am – 4.00pm.
Visit our Linktree for more information on Student Services
Disability Advice Drop-Ins
- Monday to Thursday 2pm - 4pm
- Friday 2pm - 3:30pm
This will be an opportunity to briefly discuss your support with a member of the team.
This might include advice on reasonable adjustments or guidance on the Disabled Students Allowance. If a more extended conversation is required, a follow-up meeting can be arranged.
Please note: Disability Advice Drop-Ins are not bookable and are on a first-come, first-served basis.
Alternatively, email disabilityadvice@port.ac.uk or complete the Additional Support Questionnaire on your Student View.