Students

Students - FAQs

Summary: Frequently asked questions from blind and partially sighted students.

It's always worth making contact with Disability Advisers at a college or university to ask about the type of support available to you if you have a sight problem. Course information can be provided by guidance staff working within Student Services.

Going to college

I am moving from specialist/mainstream school to Further /Higher Education. What support will I get?

We may be able to help, but we need more details about your individual case and the type of advice you have sought so far. We can then decide who is the most appropriate point of referral. Before contacting an RNIB PCET Officer with an enquiry, think about the following:

For students entering further education and/or adult and continuing education:

  • have you spoken to a Careers Adviser about the course? (details from your school/college or in the Yellow Pages).
  • have you had an assessment of your learning support needs? If not, contact the person responsible for disability issues at your school/college.
  • what specialist IT facilities will be available to you at college? Speak to the IT manager at the college directly to find out.
  • have teaching staff been made aware of your learning needs? If not, contact the head of department for your course
  • what other facilities are available to you, for example, accessible learning materials and course information, availability of learning support assistants, mobility support?

For students entering higher education:

  • have you spoken to a Careers Adviser about courses/places to study? (details available from your school/college, or in the Yellow Pages)
  • have you made contact with the Disability Adviser in the institution concerned to discuss your individual needs and type of support and facilities available to you?
  • have you applied for Disabled Students Allowance (DSA)? If not, contact the Student Support Service at your Local Education Authority (LEA).
  • have you any accommodation arranged? If not, contact the Accommodation Office at the college/university concerned

See finding a course for more details.

I don't know what to study, or where!

In the first instance, you should make an appointment with your careers adviser to discuss your options (their contact details will be available from your school or college or website, or in the Yellow Pages).

In addition, you should obtain course information from the relevant academic department in the institution concerned. Speak to the Learning Support Team for disability specific information (including the type of learning support available to you). If this has already been done and you have found the institution to be unhelpful, email: pcet@rnib.org.uk so a PCET officer can contact you to arrange support.

See Finding a course for more advice.

Students in education

My college/university say they can't help me because I have a sight problem.

Speak with the Officer responsible for Students with Disabilities in the establishment itself, as well as a Careers Adviser (if you have not already done so). Also, ask the college/university for a copy of their Disability Statement. If all of the above has already been done and you are still having problems, RNIB's PCET Officers should be contacted for support. Email pcet@rnib.org.uk to request an informal chat.

The role of RNIB Education Service is to help the education provider to improve their services for blind and partially sighted learners by helping to raise staff awareness of the key issues around the barriers to learning, and making the learning environment accessible.

What help will be available to me when I start my course?

It is most important that you make contact with college/university staff as early as possible, preferably before the start of the course.

In terms of the level of support from staff/lecturers in classes - speak to the head of the relevant academic department in the first instance. It is also recommended that you contact the Student Support Services manager and/or someone who has responsibility for students with disabilities in the institution concerned. It is also worth getting hold of a copy of their Disability Statement (available from the education provider's Student Services department) as well as having a look at the college/university prospectus.

I find it hard to get around the college/university - who can help?

Queries relating to mobility and getting around campus (or accommodation issues), can be referred in the first instance to the institution's Disability Adviser to check the support procedures in place. Contact should also be made with the relevant statutory agencies, usually the Visual Impairment Team within your local Social Services Department. Some social services contract this type of work to a local voluntary service for the blind (eg. in Liverpool, mobility support and rehabilitation services are provided by Liverpool Voluntary Society for the Blind). Guide Dogs for the Blind Association (GDBA) also provide help with mobility support. You do not have to be a guide dog user to access this service.

Funding

Where can I get help to pay course fees?

You will need to contact Student Services at the education provider to establish the fee status of the course. Will the fees be paid in full by the education provider or will you need to pay some or all of the cost? Do you need to pay the fees in instalments? A Careers Adviser should also be able to advise on funding issues, including the availability of bursaries and Research Grants (which may be available for post-graduate courses). RNIB does not help with giving grants towards meeting the cost of course fees, but can provide financial assistance with purchasing specialist equipment.

Students should refer to a number of reference guides such as the Charities Digest and The Educational Grants Directory, which are usually available in most public libraries. You may wish to contact the library before visiting about sighted assistance and other forms of support.

The FunderFinder database, which allows users to specify a detailed search of grant awarding bodies, should also be useful (available in some libraries & local Council's for Voluntary Services, though it is advisable to phone and check in advance). RNIB and SKILL (National Bureau for Students with Disabilities, 0800 328 5050) also produce lists of grant awarding bodies.

See also financial assistance.

What is the Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) and how can I apply for it?

You should contact the Student Awards Section of your Local Education Authority for information about DSA along with an application form. General information can also be sent by RNIB explaining what DSA is. Any other enquiries, for example, around the assessment itself, should be referred to an RNIB Post-16 Education Officer who is able to arrange an assessment if need be. There are however, a number of other organisations that carry out assessments, for example, the National Federation of Access Centres (NFAC: 01752 23 22 78). Your Local Education Authority (LEA) can also advise you further.

See also the Financial assistance page.

How will studying affect my benefits?

The RNIB Helpline can also offer assistance on: 0845 766 9999.

See also the Financial assistance page.

Where can I loan equipment to help me while studying?

First of all, get in touch with your college/university directly for details of the technical support they are able to offer, including any loans of equipment. If the educational provider cannot help you, contact an RNIB Technology Officer who may be able to help, email: pcet@rnib.org.uk to request for a technology officer to contact you.

Make sure you read the info about "RNIB Student services" on the useful contacts page.

Placements, training and employment

My course involves a work experience placement, what help is available?

Approach your course leader or the person responsible for organising work experience placements within your institution for advice. The college/university may need help to set the placement up. Your local RNIB PCET Officer can advise the college/university about organising a work placement for visually impaired students. It is also advisable for the college/university to contact the local Disability Employment Adviser (DEA) at the job centre for contact details of potential placement providers.

Make sure you read the info about RNIB PCET services on the useful contacts page.

Where can I get help with job seeking?

In the first instance, you should speak with a careers adviser (contact details available from the Disability Employment Adviser (DEA) at your local job centre).

If you require additional advice and support, contact an RNIB Post-16 Education Officer in the first instance. (Depending on your individual needs, you may be referred to more than one service within RNIB, eg vocational guidance/assessment from an Employment Officer, or technology advice from a Technology Officer)

The Employment fact sheet Job Seeking Resources contains a range of useful contacts and web based resources and is available from RNIB Employment services, email employmentline@rnib.org.uk for further information.

I am seeking work but also looking at doing a college course. Who can advise me?

In the first instance you should contact a careers adviser and your Disability Employment Adviser (DEA) who will be able to help with your job search. If you require additional support, you may wish to speak with a RNIB Employment Officer. In terms of the college course, you should also speak with a careers adviser and/or contact Learn Direct (0800 100 900). If you require additional support, you may wish to speak with a RNIB PCET officer, email pcet@rnib.org.uk to request an informal chat.

I am already in employment but looking at potential education opportunities in post-16 education

In the first instance, you should speak with a careers adviser and/or Learn Direct (0800 100 900). If you require additional support and advice, contact your nearest RNIB PCET officer.

How do I go about training as a Qualified Teacher of the Visually Impaired (QTVI)?

In the first instance, you should speak with a careers adviser (contact details under 'Careers Advice' in the Yellow Pages). Advice can also be provided by a RNIB Employment Officer. The University of Birmingham offers the professional training for specialist teachers and you can also speak with the course admissions officer for information and advice.

How do I go about training as a qualified learning support assistant (LSA) for visually impaired learners?

For individuals interested in working in post-16 education, some colleges will offer specialised courses (for example, City College Manchester, 0161 957 1500). For courses for those LSAs working in schools, RNIB's Pre-16 Education Service offer courses. It should also be worthwhile contacting your LEA's Visual Impairment Support Service for information and advice.

The RNIB factsheet Working with Visually Impaired Children lists all the courses open to people wishing to work in this field, available by contacting PCET@rnib.org.uk

Where/how can I train to be a Rehabilitation Officer/Mobility Officer?

In the first instance, you should speak with a Careers Adviser (contact details available from your school/college). Additionally RNIB Employment Officers can advise you as well as those individuals who already work as rehabilitation/mobility officers (contact the Visual Impairment Team at your local social services). You should also contact those centres that offer the professional training of Rehabilitation Officers which include:

Research

Do you have information around sight loss, young people and education?

See our publications:

  • Insight magazine - The premier magazine providing inspirational and practical information on the education of children and young people, including those with additional or complex needs.
  • Your Guide to RNIB Services gives a general overview of the work of the organisation

Both are available from Customer Services on 0845 702 3153.

You may also find it of use to contact the RNIB Research Library on 020 7391 2052,

The following may also be useful:

  • British Journal of Visual Impairment (for professionals, VIEW Publication Trust, Tel: 01203 36 95 46).
  • Association of Blind and Partially Sighted Teachers and Students (ABAPSTAS), BM Box 6727, London WC1N 3XX Tel 01484 690 542.
  • Local societies and groups of young people in your area can also be invaluable sources of help.

Student homepage

Content author: studentsite@rnib.org.uk

Last updated: 20/11/2008 11:13

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Gemma's story - while at university Gemma volunteered as an events assistant in a charity. Being partially sighted, she faced some challenges working in a paper-based office. "The positive response to me asserting my needs has helped me feel more confident about the future." Gemma is also "convinced that employers recognise work experience as essential" and saw it as a great opportunity to develop new skills. Gemma's full story