Education support is not only for children. Disabled people, neurodivergent people and people with long-term health or mental health conditions can need and receive support throughout college, university, apprenticeships, professional training, adult learning and career retraining.
The right support can help remove barriers to learning, exams, placements, communication, buildings, technology and participation.
Your Disability Rights in Education
In England, Scotland and Wales, disability discrimination in education is principally covered by the Equality Act 2010.
Education providers must not unlawfully discriminate against disabled learners.
This includes protection from:
- Direct discrimination
- Indirect discrimination
- Discrimination arising from disability
- Harassment
- Victimisation
Reasonable Adjustments
Education providers have a duty to consider reasonable adjustments where a disabled learner would otherwise be placed at a substantial disadvantage.
Adjustments can potentially include:
- Accessible course materials
- Alternative formats
- Assistive technology
- Communication support
- BSL interpreters
- Specialist equipment
- Alternative exam arrangements
- Extra time where justified
- Rest breaks
- Accessible rooms
- Changes to teaching arrangements
- Accessible digital systems
Northern Ireland
The Equality Act 2010 does not generally apply in Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland has separate equality and disability-discrimination law.
Disabled students still have important rights involving education, further education and higher education.
Who Can Need Disability Support?
Support is not limited to people with visible physical disabilities.
Neurodivergence
Autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia and other neurodevelopmental differences.
Physical Disability
Mobility impairment, chronic pain, limb differences and physical health conditions.
Sensory Disability
Blindness, sight loss, deafness and hearing loss.
Mental Health
Anxiety, depression, PTSD and other long-term mental health conditions.
Long-Term Illness
ME/CFS, epilepsy, diabetes, cancer, heart conditions and other long-term conditions.
Learning Disability
Learning disabilities and other cognitive or developmental support needs.
Ask for Support Early
Where possible, contact the provider before the course starts. Some adjustments require planning, equipment or outside support.
Useful people to contact can include:
- Disability Support Team
- Additional Learning Support – ALS
- Learning Support Team
- Student Support
- Wellbeing Team
- Accessibility Adviser
- SEND or ALN team
- Course tutor
- Examinations officer
- Placement coordinator
Further Education Colleges
Further Education – FE – includes a wide range of education and training for young people and adults.
Courses can include:
- GCSEs
- A levels
- Functional Skills
- Vocational qualifications
- T Levels
- Access to Higher Education
- English and maths
- ESOL
- Professional courses
- Adult retraining
- Independent-living programmes
- Supported employment preparation
College Disability Support
Support can include:
- Learning support workers
- Specialist tutors
- Assistive technology
- Alternative formats
- Communication support
- BSL interpretation
- Note-taking
- Accessible equipment
- Exam arrangements
- Mental health and wellbeing support
England – SEND, College & EHC Plans
In England, Education, Health and Care – EHC – plans can apply beyond school age.
A young person with SEND may continue to need an EHC plan while undertaking appropriate education or training.
Options can include:
- Further education
- Specialist college
- Training
- Supported internships
- Apprenticeships
Preparing for Adulthood
EHC planning for older young people should consider:
- Employment
- Further or higher education
- Independent living
- Friends and relationships
- Community participation
- Health
Wales – Additional Learning Needs
Wales uses the Additional Learning Needs – ALN system.
Where a learner has ALN, their additional learning provision may be recorded in an Individual Development Plan – IDP.
The system applies across schools and further education.
Who Can Help?
- Teacher or tutor
- Additional Learning Needs Coordinator – ALNCo
- School or college
- Local authority
If You Disagree
Local authorities must provide arrangements for resolving ALN disagreements. Qualifying decisions can also be appealed to the Education Tribunal for Wales.
Scotland – Additional Support for Learning
Scotland uses the term Additional Support for Learning – ASL.
Children and young people may need additional support because of:
- Disability
- Health conditions
- Learning difficulties
- Family circumstances
- Social or emotional factors
- The learning environment
Co-ordinated Support Plan
Where a child or young person meets the statutory conditions, a Co-ordinated Support Plan – CSP – can coordinate significant support from education and other agencies.
Northern Ireland – College Disability Support
Further Education colleges in Northern Ireland must consider reasonable adjustments for disabled learners and people with learning difficulties.
The Additional Support Fund can help colleges provide support.
Examples include:
- Braille equipment
- Specialist software
- Hearing loops
- Specialist tutors
- Interpreters
- Classroom assistants
- Note-takers
Universities & Higher Education
Universities and higher-education colleges have disability-related legal responsibilities.
Every provider should have a route for students to discuss disability support and reasonable adjustments.
Support may include:
Teaching
- Accessible teaching materials
- Lecture recordings where appropriate
- Alternative formats
- Accessible seminar arrangements
Study Support
- Specialist mentoring
- Study skills support
- Assistive technology
- Note-taking support
Assessment
- Extra time where appropriate
- Rest breaks
- Alternative rooms
- Assistive technology
- Other assessment adjustments
Campus Access
- Accessible rooms
- Accessible accommodation
- Library support
- Emergency evacuation planning
Disabled Students' Allowance – DSA
Disabled Students' Allowance helps with additional study-related costs caused by disability.
It can cover people with:
- Autism
- ADHD
- Dyslexia and other specific learning differences
- Mental health conditions
- Physical disabilities
- Sensory disabilities
- Long-term health conditions
Support can potentially include:
- Specialist equipment
- Assistive technology
- Non-medical helper support
- Specialist mentoring
- Specialist study support
- Disability-related study travel
- Other agreed study-related disability costs
DSA – England
Students funded through Student Finance England may be able to apply for DSA.
Eligibility can include:
- Specific learning difficulty
- ADHD
- Mental health condition
- Physical disability
- Sensory disability
- Long-term health condition
Lifelong Learning Entitlement
England is introducing the Lifelong Learning Entitlement – LLE – for many courses beginning from January 2027.
From September 2026, applications can be made for eligible LLE-funded study beginning from January 2027.
DSA can be available for eligible LLE study of at least 30 credits in a course year.
DSA – Wales
Students ordinarily funded through Student Finance Wales can apply under the Welsh DSA system where eligible.
DSA – Scotland
Eligible Scottish students can apply for Disabled Students' Allowance through the Student Awards Agency Scotland – SAAS.
Support is based on the additional study-related costs caused by disability, mental health conditions, long-term health conditions or specific learning needs.
DSA – Northern Ireland
Student Finance Northern Ireland provides DSA for eligible students.
Student Finance NI says DSA is based on individual needs rather than household income.
Applying for DSA
Apply Early
You do not normally need to wait until your course has actually started. Check your national student-finance rules and apply as soon as you can.
Provide Evidence
The evidence required depends on the condition. Medical evidence or a diagnostic report may be required.
Needs Assessment
Where required, an assessment identifies how disability affects study and recommends appropriate support.
Receive Your Entitlement
The funding body confirms which equipment, support and services have been approved.
Exams, Assessments & Access Arrangements
Disabled learners may need adjustments to exams or other assessments.
Possible arrangements can include:
- Extra time
- Supervised rest breaks
- Modified papers
- Large print
- Braille
- Assistive software
- Voice recognition
- Screen readers
- A reader
- A scribe
- Typing instead of handwriting
- A separate room where appropriate
Temporary Illness or Injury During Exams
Not every learner needing temporary exam support is legally disabled.
Awarding organisations can also provide access arrangements or special consideration where a student experiences:
- A temporary injury
- Short-term illness
- Bereavement
- Another serious event outside their control
Apprenticeships & Disability Support
An apprenticeship combines employment with training.
Disabled apprentices can have rights both as employees and as learners.
Support can include:
- Specialist equipment
- Additional learning support
- Accessible training materials
- Changes to how tasks are organised
- More time for some learning activities
- Workplace adaptations
- Communication support
- Adjusted assessment arrangements where appropriate
Email: nationalhelpdesk@apprenticeships.gov.uk
Access to Work & Apprentices
Access to Work can provide additional workplace support for eligible disabled people and people with health conditions.
Support can potentially include:
- Specialist equipment
- Support workers
- Communication support
- Travel-to-work support in qualifying circumstances
- Workplace assessments
- Mental health support
Relay UK: 18001 then 0800 121 7479
Supported Internships – England
Supported internships are designed to help some young people with SEND move towards paid employment.
A supported internship normally includes:
- A substantial work placement
- Support from a job coach
- A personalised study programme
- English and maths where appropriate
- Preparation for paid employment
The work placement is normally unpaid because the learner remains on an education programme.
Adult Learning & Returning to Education
There is no upper age limit on wanting to learn new skills.
Adult education can be useful for:
- Returning to education after illness
- Changing career
- Learning digital skills
- Improving English or maths
- Getting GCSEs or equivalent qualifications
- Professional development
- Access to Higher Education
- Learning for confidence or independence
Adult Learning – England
The National Careers Service provides a course-search service for online and classroom learning in England.
Its course finder also signposts support with funding, childcare and disability adjustments.
Free Courses for Jobs
Eligible adults in England may be able to study certain qualifications without paying course fees.
Current arrangements include some level 3 qualifications and certain level 2 construction, engineering or manufacturing qualifications. Eligibility depends on age, income, employment status and local rules.
Adult Learning Across the UK
Careers Wales provides information about adult and community education, course searches and retraining.
Skills Development Scotland's My World of Work provides careers, training and learning information.
nidirect provides information about further education, adult learning and careers services.
Distance & Online Learning
Distance learning can be useful where disability makes regular travel, fixed attendance or traditional classroom learning difficult.
However, online learning should still be accessible.
Consider:
- Captioned videos
- Screen-reader compatibility
- Keyboard accessibility
- Accessible documents
- Flexible participation
- Alternative assessment arrangements
- Support for fatigue or pain
- Communication needs
The Open University
The Open University has a dedicated disability support service and provides support for learners with physical or sensory disabilities, long-term conditions, mental health difficulties, specific learning difficulties and autism.
The OU advises students to contact disability support early because specialist arrangements can take time to organise.
Accessible Learning Materials
A disabled learner may need learning materials provided in an accessible form.
Examples can include:
- Braille
- Large print
- Audio
- Easy Read
- Accessible PDF or Word files
- Captioned video
- Transcripts
- BSL content where appropriate
- Screen-reader-compatible documents
- Digital material that can be enlarged or recoloured
Assistive Technology for Learning
Reading
- Screen readers
- Text-to-speech
- OCR
- Magnification
Writing
- Speech recognition
- Word prediction
- Spell support
- Alternative keyboards
Organisation
- Mind mapping
- Digital planners
- Task reminders
- Visual scheduling
Communication
- AAC software
- Live captions
- Speech-to-text
- Communication devices
Placements, Practical Courses & Professional Training
Some courses include compulsory work placements or practical training.
Examples include:
- Nursing
- Medicine
- Teaching
- Social work
- Health professions
- Engineering
- Childcare
- Apprenticeships
Reasonable adjustments may also need to be considered for placements.
Examples might include:
- Accessible placement locations
- Adjusted communication
- Assistive equipment
- Accessible rotas where reasonable
- Additional supervision
- Support during meetings
Accessible Student Accommodation
Some disabled students require accommodation adaptations or specific room features.
Needs can include:
- Wheelchair-accessible accommodation
- Ground-floor rooms
- Accessible bathroom
- Adapted kitchen
- Visual fire alarms
- Vibrating alerts
- Space for mobility equipment
- Assistance-animal arrangements
- Location close to teaching facilities
- Other disability-related adaptations
Emergency Evacuation & Campus Safety
Some disabled learners may need an individual emergency evacuation plan.
This can be relevant for people with:
- Mobility impairments
- Sight loss
- Hearing loss
- Conditions affecting stamina
- Communication difficulties
- Other needs affecting emergency evacuation
Ask the provider about a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan – PEEP or equivalent process where needed.
Health & Mental Health Support While Studying
Educational support does not replace healthcare, but health services may form an important part of someone's ability to remain in education.
Support may include:
- GP care
- Mental health services
- Talking therapies
- Occupational therapy
- Speech and language therapy
- Physiotherapy
- Autism services
- ADHD services
- Specialist hospital teams
Other Financial Support for Students
DSA is only one form of student support.
Depending on the country, course and personal circumstances, students may also be able to access:
- Maintenance support
- Childcare support
- Parents' Learning Allowance
- Adult Dependants' Grant
- University hardship funds
- Scholarships and bursaries
- NHS Learning Support Fund for eligible healthcare courses
- Social work bursaries
- Teacher-training funding
Disability Benefits While Studying
Being a student does not automatically mean that disability benefits stop.
PIP and Similar Disability Benefits
A person may continue to receive a qualifying disability benefit if they continue to meet its normal eligibility rules.
Universal Credit
Careers Advice
National Careers Service
Provides free careers information, advice and guidance.
If Agreed Support Is Not Provided
Raise It Quickly
Tell the disability team, tutor or relevant department that the adjustment has not been implemented.
Put It in Writing
State what adjustment was agreed, when it should have been provided and how the failure affected you.
Keep Evidence
Keep your disability plan, emails, assessment recommendations, exam records and other relevant documents.
Use the Provider's Complaint or Appeal Process
A complaint may be appropriate for service failures. An academic appeal may be required where an assessment decision or progression decision has been affected.
University Complaints & Academic Appeals
Start with the university or higher-education provider's own formal complaints or academic-appeals procedure.
After the provider's internal procedures are complete, eligible complaints can be taken to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education.
The OIA is independent and free for students.
After completing a Scottish college or university's complaints or academic-appeals process, qualifying complaints may be taken to the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman.
Use the university or college's own complaints and academic-appeals procedure first. Ask the provider's student-support team or students' union about the appropriate independent escalation route for that institution.
If You Believe You Have Been Discriminated Against
The Equality Advisory and Support Service provides information about equality and discrimination rights.
Useful Disability & Education Organisations
Disability Rights UK
Information on disability rights, education, independent living and employment.
Citizens Advice
Advice about benefits, education, discrimination and other problems.
Before Starting a Course – Useful Checklist
- Contact the disability or learning-support team.
- Explain how your disability affects learning rather than only giving a diagnosis.
- Ask what evidence the provider needs.
- Apply for DSA early if eligible.
- Discuss exams and assessments.
- Discuss placements or practical work.
- Check physical access.
- Discuss accessible accommodation where required.
- Ask about assistive technology.
- Ask who will be responsible for implementing agreed adjustments.
- Keep written confirmation of your support plan.
- Ask how to report a problem if an adjustment is not provided.
Questions You Can Ask a College or University
Support
What disability support can you provide for my particular needs?
Assessments
How are exam and assessment adjustments arranged?
Technology
Which assistive technology is available on campus?
Placements
How will my support continue during placements?
Accommodation
What accessible accommodation is available?
Problems
Who should I contact if an agreed adjustment is not provided?
Useful Contacts
Key Point
Disabled adults can receive support at colleges, universities, apprenticeships, professional training, adult-learning providers and distance-learning institutions.
Reasonable adjustments can cover teaching, exams, technology, communication, placements, buildings and other barriers.
Disabled Students' Allowance can help eligible higher-education students with additional study-related disability costs, but it is separate from the education provider's own responsibility to make reasonable adjustments.
Young people with SEND may also have additional statutory routes, including EHC plans in England, ALN and IDPs in Wales, and Additional Support for Learning in Scotland.
If a barrier exists, ask what can reasonably be changed to remove it.
This guide provides general information about disability support in education throughout the United Kingdom. It is not individual legal, educational, benefits or student-finance advice.
Education law, SEND systems, student-finance arrangements and funding schemes differ between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Always use the official information for the nation where you live or from which your student finance is provided.
Funding amounts, eligibility rules and education policies can change. Check the official source linked on this page before relying on a particular entitlement or amount.