Colleges and universities do not have to provide support for students with special educational needs in the same way that schools do. However, in many cases, special educational needs may be covered under the Disability Discrimination Act – if the needs are because of a physical or mental impairment, which has a substantial and long-term adverse affect on a person’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. In this case, the college or university is required to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ to ensure that students with disabilities have access to an effective education.
There are a number of specialist colleges which provide additional support for students with learning difficulties, special educational needs or particular disabilities. Find out more about where these colleges are and what support they provide.
Find out more about special educational needs.