Disability and Dyslexia Service

Learn more about how we can support you throughout your studies.

Social distancing arrangements on campus may be more difficult if you are a student with a disability or health condition. If you are a student with a disability or health condition do not need to follow the one-way systems (or other directional signage, such as exits and entrances) and can take the routes most suitable to your needs. Whilst this may mean passing people at less than 2m it is considered safe because it will be for a short duration and people will be wearing face coverings. A personal emergency evacuation plan (PEEP) should be arranged in the usual way through the Disability and Dyslexia Service if required.

If you lip read and you need to communicate with somebody who is wearing a face covering, you should maintain a distance of 2m and ask the person to lower their face covering so that you can lip-read. In general teaching staff will wear visors to make lip reading possible.

Students with disabilities and/or health conditions and face coverings - info for students

Students who can wear a face covering should at all times when in communal and shared indoor spaces. In shared indoor spaces you will be expected to wear a face covering unless you are eating and/or drinking. We ask members of the #TeamMDX community to be socially responsible and adhere to approaches we are taking as an institution to keep us all safe. Face coverings are not a substitute for other hygiene and safety measures, such as being tested when displaying symptoms, self-isolating when unwell or advised to, enhanced cleaning regimes, and regular hand-washing. These primary mitigation measures should always be followed.We also encourage #TeamMDX to be mindful that some members of our community will be unable to wear face coverings or to follow particular Covid-secure systems on campus, such as one way systems, due to a health condition or disability.

In line with Government guidance, some students are exempt from wearing a face covering. This includes those who:

• cannot put on, wear or remove a face covering because of a physical or mental illness or impairment, or disability
• would experience extreme distress by putting on, wearing or removing a face covering
• speak to or provide assistance to someone who relies on lip reading, clear sound or facial expressions to communicate

If you have a health or disability reason for not wearing a face covering should not be routinely asked to give any written evidence of this and this includes exemption cards. You may however feel more comfortable showing something that says that you do not have to wear a face covering. This is a personal choice and is not necessary in law, but we would encourage this so that you are not repeatedly asked. You may wish to collect an MDX face covering exempt lanyard and badge which will be available from Security in the Quad from 21/09.

When to disclose?

There are several different stages you can choose to disclose a disability to us. You can disclose on your UCAS application or once you have enrolled at MDX. In order to ensure you are supported appropriately, it's best to disclose as early as you can.

For more information about disclosing a disability and what happens to the information you provide, please read the below documents:

• Disclosure, Data Protection and Confidentiality
• Disability Rights UK

External support and information

Please see below a list of useful links and resources.

• Action on Hearing Loss
• British Dyslexia Association
• Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA)
• Disabled Students' Allowance Assessment Centre
• Epilepsy Society
• NHS Bursary
• National Autistic Society
• Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB)