What is a Disability Access Plan?
A Disability Access Plan (DAP) records the reasonable adjustments that have been identified to support a student with a disability, long-term health condition, neurodivergent condition or specific learning difficulty.
The University operates a Framework for Reasonable Adjustments comprising:
- Level 1: Anticipatory adjustments available to all disabled students through the University's inclusive approach to teaching, learning and assessment.
- Level 2: Individual adjustments recommended following consideration of a student's specific circumstances.
- Level 3: Exceptional adjustments approved where Levels 1 and 2 are insufficient to meet a student's needs.
A DAP may include adjustments from one or more of these levels and provides staff with the information needed to support teaching, learning and assessment.
Reasonable adjustments are intended to complement broader inclusive teaching and assessment practices and should be implemented alongside existing inclusive approaches.
Staff responsibilities
Staff should:
- review the information contained within the DAP
- implement the adjustments relevant to their role
- discuss the effectiveness of adjustments with students where appropriate
- provide opportunities for students to discuss their support needs, particularly at key transition points such as placements, periods of suspension and returning to study
- signpost students to review their DAP or seek Disability Advice if additional support may be required
Accessing a student's DAP
You can access Disability Access Plans for your students via SAMIS on the Web. It is possible to view an individual student’s DAP or to view a list of all students with a DAP on a particular unit/module you teach or who are assigned to a particular role (e.g. Director of Studies).
To discuss the contents of a DAP or an individual student’s support requirements, or if you are having trouble accessing DAPs via SAMIS, please contact the Disability Advice team.
Using SAMIS to view DAPs and access DAP reports
You can use SAMIS to view both individual DAPs of students linked to your role, and to view summary reports which can help you to understand the range of adjustments needed across all students linked to your role (e.g. as a Director of Studies or Unit Convener).
View the Guide on accessing DAPs in SAMIS to find out more.
Implementing recommended adjustments
In addition to DAPs being available to view on SAMIS on the Web, notifications of DAPs which have been created or updated are sent to the Director of Studies, Academic Advisor and other Faculty/Department named contact/s.
DAPs are reviewed in response to changing circumstances highlighted by the student or academic department, and it can be helpful to review recommendations during key stages of the course (e.g. when returning from suspense or planning to undertake a placement). We encourage you to discuss the effectiveness of adjustments and any additional support that may be required with the student.
We encourage Unit Convenors to disseminate information within the department to any staff who do not have access to SAMIS including external lecturers, technical staff, doctoral students who teach and external examiners for viva examinations who may be supporting students.
Doctoral supervisors are encouraged to discuss with their students which information should be shared when with external examiners.
If an adjustment cannot be implemented
Where an adjustment cannot reasonably be implemented in a particular context, the Director of Studies should discuss alternative arrangements with the student and seek advice from the Disability Service where required.
Any alternative arrangements should be recorded using the University's Alternative Implementation of Adjustments process.
Getting additional support for a student
You should contact the Disability Advice team if:
- an existing DAP may need to be reviewed
- you believe a student may require additional support
- you need advice on implementing adjustments
- an adjustment cannot reasonably be implemented in a specific context