Back in October 2021, your Academic Experience Officer Meg Darroch launched #DoItMyWay, an accessibility toolkit designed to help disabled students advocate for themselves within the students’ union, and get the help and adjustments from the SU that they need to thrive.

In addition to the #DoItMyWay toolkit, Meg has also put together a list of resources that she finds helpful in various different areas of day to day life, and thinks they’ll be helpful for you too. Whether you’re looking for resources regarding employment, education, or everyday life check out the links below!

Employment

Regardless of any physical or mental disabilities or conditions, everyone has the right to work, and deserves adjustments that help them to thrive in the workplace.

Have a look at the links below to learn more about your right to work, and the reasonable adjustments you’re entitled to ask your employer for.

• GOV UK – Access To Work
   
• NHS – Work & Disability, Social Care & Support, Money & Benefits
   
• ACAS: Working For Everyone – Disability At Work
   
• SCOPE: Equality For Disabled People – Advice & Support For Flexible Part Time Working
   
• CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development) – Disability At Work
   
• Disability Rights UK – Careers & Work For Disabled People
   
• GOV UK – Disability Confident Employers Scheme

Education

If you have a disability or long-term health condition, this shouldn’t hold you back in your education experience.

Just like workplaces, schools, colleges and universities are required to make reasonable adjustments during your academic experience that will help you achieve your full potential.

Take a look at the links below to find out how to access reasonable adjustments in your learning environment, as well as some useful tips and life hacks from fellow students about navigating education as a disabled student!

• Leeds Beckett University Student Information – Disability Advice
   
• UCAS – Applying To University As A Disabled Student: Get Support For Your Individual Needs
   
• NI Direct (GOV UK) – Disability Support In Higher Education
   
• GOV UK – Disabled Students’ Allowance
   
• Studying In The UK – Studying As A Student With Disabilities
   
• British Dyslexia Association – Adult Studying Skills & Advice
   
• UCL Students’ Union – Disability Life Hacks
   
• TJ Twins (Video) – How I Study For My Degree With Learning Disabilities: Readings, Coursework, Time Management Tips
   
• Ability Net – Note Taking Hacks For Autistic Students

Lifestyle

For those of us with disabilities or long-term health conditions, we know that life looks and is experienced differently to those without.

Whether it’s planning trips and travel in advance so that you know which venues or transport stations are accessible, or budgeting around your specific health condition, life can be tricky to navigate at times.

Below are some links for tips and hacks that might help you with day-to-day life with a disability, and to help others with understanding the importance of disability inclusivity, and planning accessible events.

• Access Able – Find Accessible Venues Wherever You Are
   
• Ability Net – Disability & Accessibility Related Events Calendar
   
• Youth Theatre Arts Scotland – Events Checklist For Disability Access
   
• The Disability Union – Disability Life Hacks To Make Life More Accessible (Without Breaking The Bank)
   
• Hidden Disabilities – Not All Disabilities Are Visible

We hope that you find some of these resources useful, and if you haven’t checked it out already, you can find out everything you need to know about the #DoItMyWay Toolkit here!