Students with Disabilities
The current Students with Disabilities Officer is May, a Year 3 Fashion student!
The Students with Disabilities Officer at Norwich Arts SU works with the university and other student officers to represent, support and campaign on behalf of disabled students at Norwich University.
If you would like to get in touch, please contact May on su.disabledstudents@norwichuni.ac.uk.
Interested in this role?
Our Part Time Officers are elected annually in the spring term, with by elections for vacant roles taking place in October. If you think you would make a great Disability Officer, nominate yourself when nominations open!
Where to get support
Students' Union
You can pop in to the SU Lounge, located in the basement of St Andrews House during normal office hours for a confidential chat. There is an accessible lift down to the basement level through the brown doors to the left of St Andrews House main entrance.
Student Support
Student support offer advice, guidance and support in the following areas:
- Mental Health & Wellbeing
- Accommodation
- Student Finance, money management & budgeting
- Disability/long term physical or mental health conditions and specific learning differences, such as dyslexia
You can contact Student Support via OurNorwichUni or during their drop in hours Monday - Friday (during term time), 12:30-3:30pm to speak with a member of the team, with extended opening on Wednesdays 10.30-3.30pm.
The drop in is located in St Georges, the accessible entrance to this building is located around the corner to the right of the main door, next to the building arch.
You can access more information about Student Support on the VLE.
Academic support
Academic Support works closely with the course teams and other areas of the Academic Registry to offer guidance on how our regulations can support you.
They can help with:
- Claiming extenuating circumstances
- Applying for intermission, which means taking an approved break from your studies
- Making an appeal or a complaint
You can contact Academic Support by emailing aso@norwichuni.ac.uk or find more information on the Intranet
External support providers
- Equal Lives - disability rights organisation based in Norfolk and Suffolk. We exist to support people of any age who face disabling barriers.
- BUILD charity - Social, leisure and learning opportunities for people with disabilities.
- SCOPE - disability equality charity in England and Wales providing support and campaigns to ensure a fairer society.
Activism and Campaigns
Norwich Arts SU is committed to ensuring all students have fair access and opportunities, and campaigning on issues that disproportionately affect disabled students. Here are some campaign areas that we are continuously lobbying on:
Access to Mental Health Support
Students all too often have pressures coming at them from all angles which may trigger mental ill-health, and the support services are either oversubscribed or just not there. The SU works with the University on improving access and visibility of available support services.
Sunflower Lanyard Scheme
For years now the SU has been lobbying the University to adopt the sunflower lanyard scheme, ensuring students with hidden disabilities are not left behind and that access needs can be met. Since September 2023, free sunflower lanyards have been distributed by Student Support and the SU, and are recognised across the institution. If you are interested in a sunflower lanyard, please reach out to Student Support or the Students' Union and you will be able to collect one for free (subject to availability).
