- Why disclose a disability or long-term health condition?
- What support can I get?
- Study Needs Agreement (SNA)
- Support during placements
- Who can see my information?
- How is my information shared?
- When might information be shared without my permission?
- How is my information kept confidential?
- How is my information stored
- How to get support?
Why disclose a disability or long-term health condition?
The University of Hertfordshire aims to create an environment where you feel comfortable disclosing a disability or long-term health condition.
You can disclose at any time, including during admissions and enrolment.
Disclosing a disability will not affect your application to study at the University or any academic review of your work. It helps us identify and provide the support available to you as early as possible.
What support can I get?
If you disclose a disability or long-term health condition, you may be able to:
- get reasonable adjustments for your studies, including lectures and exams
- access specialist accessibility and disability support
- find out about accessibility and disability-related funding, including the Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) and UH Disability Fund
- discuss your needs with an Accessibility and Disability Adviser
- have agreed support and adjustments recorded in a Study Needs Agreement (SNA).
We recommend speaking to an Accessibility and Disability Adviser, even if you do not currently need support. If you choose not to speak to an adviser, this may limit the disability-related support we can provide if you need it in the future.
Study Needs Agreement (SNA)
A Study Needs Agreement (SNA) records the support and reasonable adjustments agreed with your Accessibility and Disability Adviser.
Adjustments are based on your disability and supporting evidence and may include:
- permission to record lectures
- additional time to complete tasks
- other disability-related study adjustments.
Your support will be tailored to your individual needs.
You can view a copy of your SNA through Symplicity.
For more information, see Study Needs Agreement (SNA).
Support during placements
If your course includes a placement, speak to your Accessibility and Disability Adviser about any accessibility and disability-related support or reasonable adjustments you may need.
Find out more about the Practice Placement Needs Agreement
Who can see my information?
Information about your disability and Study Needs Agreement will only be shared with your permission.
You can decide what information is shared. Staff may only need to know about the adjustments you require, rather than details about your disability. For example, your lecturers may be told about adjustments they need to make without being told the nature of your disability.
Contacting your Accessibility and Disability Adviser is your choice. However, we strongly recommend doing so, even if it is only to confirm that you do not need support at this time. If you choose not to speak to an Adviser, this may limit the support we can provide if you need disability-related assistance in the future.
We understand that disclosing a disability may feel difficult. Any information you provide will be handled in line with the University's data protection and confidentiality policies, including:
- Data Protection Policy and Privacy Statement (UPR IMO8)
- Student Mental Health (UPR EQ07)
- Equality and Diversity Policy (UPR EQ03)
How is my information shared?
Information about your disability and support needs is treated confidentially.
Information in your Study Needs Agreement will only be shared with your permission. You may choose not to share information, or you can agree for specific staff to be told about the adjustments you need without sharing details of your disability. For example, your lecturers may need to know about an adjustment they need to make without knowing the nature of your disability.
Within Student Wellbeing, colleagues may sometimes consult each other to help provide coordinated support.
Notes from counselling sessions are only shared within Student Wellbeing on a need-to-know basis and, wherever possible, this will be discussed with you first.
We do not usually share your information with University staff outside Student Wellbeing or external organisations without your permission.
When might information be shared without my permission?
In rare circumstances, information may need to be shared without your permission if:
- there is a serious risk to your safety or the safety of others
- the University is legally required to disclose information.
Where possible, we will discuss this with you before taking any action.
If there is an immediate risk of serious harm, other University colleagues may be involved to help manage the situation. Only the information needed to support the situation will be shared.
How is my information kept confidential?
Student Wellbeing includes the Counselling Service, Disability Service, Mental Health Service and Health Service.
Student Wellbeing staff follow confidentiality procedures and handle information in line with data protection legislation and University policies.
These include:
- Data protection
- Data Protection Act 2018
- Data Protection (UPR IM08)
- Student Mental Health (UPR EQ07)
- Equality and Diversity (UPR EQ03).
Counsellors also work in accordance with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions.
Student Wellbeing staff may discuss their work with a professional supervisor to help ensure they provide effective support. Information shared during supervision is treated as confidential and personally identifiable information is not shared.
How is my information stored?
Student Wellbeing records are stored securely on University servers in line with data protection legislation and University policies, including Data Protection (UPR IM08) and Information Security (UPR IM02).
Student Wellbeing also collects anonymous statistical information for reporting and planning purposes. This may be shared with organisations including:
This information is anonymous and cannot be used to identify you.
If you have questions about confidentiality or how your information is used, you can discuss these with Student Wellbeing before or during an appointment.
If you want to withdraw your consent for Student Wellbeing to use your information as described above, email studentwellbeing@herts.ac.uk.
How to get support?
If you have questions or concerns about disclosing a disability or long-term health condition, you can speak confidentially with an Accessibility and Disability Adviser.
You can self-refer to the Student Wellbeing Disability Service for support.
You can also contact Student Wellbeing:
Email: StudentWellbeing@herts.ac.uk
Phone: 01707 284453