What is International Day of Persons with Disabilities?
2021 International Day of Persons with Disabilities theme: “Fighting for rights in the post-COVID era”
“International Day of People With Disabilities is an annual occasion designated to join together to support people with disability in our communities, and raise awareness of the importance of creating a future where people with disabilities experience equal opportunity and face no barriers in all aspects of their lives” (International Day of People With Disabilities (UN), n.d.). This year’s theme aims to highlight the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the disabled community. Some of these impacts include “reduced access to routine health care and rehabilitation services, more pronounced social isolation, poorly tailored public health messaging, inadequately constructed mental health services, and a lack of emergency preparedness for people with special needs” (International Day of People With Disabilities (UN), n.d.).
More information about International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
Disability in the University of Reading
Last year, Stephanie Fussell shared her experience of having a disability at the University of Reading and offered advice to others about getting access to the help they need whilst at university.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=s2TAb4w2TiY%3Fversion%3D3%26rel%3D1%26fs%3D1%26autohide%3D2%26showsearch%3D0%26showinfo%3D1%26iv_load_policy%3D1%26wmode%3Dtransparent%26enablejsapi%3D1%26origin%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fblogs.reading.ac.uk
The Disability Advisory Service (DAS) offer advice and guidance to students with any disability, mental health condition or specific learning difficulty (SpLD).
They can assist in study related support in the following ways:
•Recommending reasonable adjustments
•Provide information on funding for study support, including Disabled Students Allowance and how to apply
•Liaise with your department about reasonable adjustments, including extensions to deadlines and alternative modes of assessment where appropriate
•Create an Individual Learning Plan (ILP) to be shared with key staff in the department, so they are aware of how they can support individual students
•Provide assistance on arranging non-medical helpers, e.g. one to one support arrangements such as mentors and specialist study skills
•Liaise with the exams office re special exam arrangements
•Referring and signposting to other services
Find out more about the Disability Advisory Service by reading our ‘Meet Student Services – Disability Advisory Service (DAS)’ blog!
You can get in contact with The Disability Advisory Service by telephoning or emailing the team:
- 0118 378 4202 (between 10:00 and 16:00)
- disability@reading.ac.uk
- Going to the ‘Disability Advisory Service’ page on Essentials.