Sharing your disability

What is disclosure?

'Disclosing a disability' is the formal term given to informing the University that you have a disability, long-term medical condition or specific learning difference, such as dyslexia.

Disclosing a disability is not compulsory and many students with disabilities find that they are able to cope with the demands of their course by using the support that UEL has in place for all students or by applying for Disabled Student Allowance only. If, however, you would like to have individualised adjustments put in place for you, you must make a formal disclosure to the University, either on your application form or by registering with the Disability and Dyslexia Team. This can be done at any time during your course. 

Will making a disclosure prevent me being given an offer of a place on a course? 

Absolutely not, that would be unlawful. Offers of places are made on academic merit in line with our admissions policy. Rather than preventing you being given an offer, disclosing a disability ensures that reasonable adjustments can be put in place to help you succeed on your course. 

There may be extremely rare cases when it is not possible for sufficient reasonable adjustments to be put in place to help a student meeting a particular competence standard. If, in the unlikely event, a competence standard is identified that you may struggle to meet with adjustments in place, this empowers you to make an informed decision about whether you would wish to consider a different course or a different institution. 

When can I disclose? 

We would encourage disclosure on application wherever possible as this allows time for the Disability & Dyslexia Team to contact you before you start your course and for you to apply for the Disabled Students Allowances (a process that can take up to 14 weeks).

If you did not disclose on application, however, you can disclose at any point in time during your course of studies by registering with the Disability & Dyslexia Team. We appreciate that many students do not feel that they need support when they start their course but that changes in their condition or the demands of the course can begin to have a negative impact once they are in attendance. If this happens, please do contact us as soon as you begin to experience difficulties so that we can discuss what support can be put in place for you. 

Who will be given information if I disclose? 

The Disability & Dyslexia Team provides a completely confidential service and any information such as diagnostic reports, medical evidence or DSA Needs Assessments received will be held confidentially in line with the University's Data Protection Policies.   

If you would like to have individual adjustments put in place for you, the Disability & Dyslexia Team will need to inform the relevant staff across the institution who are responsible for arranging the adjustments.