What we can do
We will make every reasonable effort to provide you with the services you need and to support you in your study activities
Accessible study materials
You may need to have study material in an alternative format if you are not able to read printed texts, hear the audio content of television programmes, or handle conventionally bound printed texts.
Equipment
Specialist equipment could assist or even be essential to your studies. It can be used for your studies at home, at tutorials, in your exam or at residential school.
Tutorials and day schools
Services or arrangements at tutorials or day schools can make sure that students benefit from their study time.
Examination arrangements
Some students are not able to sit an examination under standard conditions so examination arrangements can be tailored to suit individual needs.
Residential school arrangements
We will take all practical steps to support your attendance, by offering you a place at the most suitable residential school and providing support and facilities wherever possible.
Overseas student planning to study through an OU partner organisation?
You should tell your local education centre as early as possible, and prior to registration, if you need support because of a disability. Please liaise with them to discuss the support you feel you will require. Your local education centre will then contact us to explore the type of support which can be provided. We will only use the information you give us to help you in your studies.
Information for all students:
Information about:
The leaflet Open to your needs (PDF, 47KB) summarises the support services and facilities available to OU students who have a disability, health condition, mental-health disability or specific learning difficulty (such as dyslexia) that affects their ability to study, attend a residential school or take examinations.
Disabled Students' Allowance - are you eligible?
Find out about the Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) and take the eligibility quiz to see if you could receive financial support.
If you are eligible for a DSA, The Open University will only provide study support that cannot be provided by a DSA
Remember
The amount of time you spend studying can depend on your experience of the subject and your study skills. All subjects have peaks and troughs in the amount of study required so you may find, for instance, that you study for more hours when an assignment is due.
However, many disabled students need more time. For example, studying from audio or producing written work with the aid of a computer and assistive technology can be very time consuming.
