Disability Support Assistant

Would you like to help us at residential school?

The OU recruits assistants to enable students with disabilities or additional needs to fully participate in residential schools. Many of our assistants are or have been OU students themselves. Often they enjoy the work so much that they have supported students with a variety of requirements over several years. All new assistants areexpected to attend training before they take up the residential school appointment for the first time and all assistants will receive ongoing training thereafter.

If you think you would like to become an assistant, read the information below and then contact the Disability Resources Team for further details.

Disability Support Assistant

The main purpose of the job is to provide specified, one-to-one support to a student with disabilities or additional requirements. The most frequently requested areas of support are

• assistance with luggage at registration and on the last morning
• guidance and assistance around the site and on field trips and in laboratories etc., which may involve, for example, using a wheelchair to aid the mobility of a student, learning the specific guidance requirements of a student with sight loss or the support requirements of a student susceptible to epileptic seizures
• note taking
• assistance at mealtimes, which typically involves carrying a food tray and / or books and bags
• attendance to provide motivational support
• assistance with the return of borrowed items of equipment on the last morning.

Some assistants may be able to offer specific skills that are helpful to students with particular needs. We use several conditions to match students with assistants, including gender, academic and other relevant experience. Most matches work extremely well, and the key to this is good communication. However, student assistants on our register are not expected to help with personal care requirements such as washing, dressing or toileting.

Disability Support Assistants are resident on campus for the duration of the residential school period. Accommodation and all meals are provided on campus, free of charge, during that time.