Accessibility and support

At Exeter Scholars we aim to provide an inclusive approach to delivering all elements of the Exeter Scholars programme. We offer all participants the chance to discuss a Personal Engagement Plan (PEP) with us. PEPs cover any practical adjustments we can make to our Exeter Scholars events and activities to ensure that all participants are able to comfortably engage with the content delivered. On this page, you can find a series of mini-guides providing information about adjustments we will make to Exeter Scholars activities to ensure that our participants with specific support needs are able to engage with the Exeter Scholars programme.

If after reading the information provided in the mini-guides below you feel that you would like to speak to a member of the Exeter Scholars team to discuss any further personalised support that you require, (for example you might want to tell us that you require a particular font size or colour to view presentations comfortably,) please do get in touch with us at exeterscholars@exeter.ac.uk. We will then arrange for your subject strand coordinator to discuss this further with you via your preferred contact method (phone or email).

Please note, we may not be able to mirror all support put in place by participants’ schools/colleges and the team are not trained accessibility or mental health practitioners, however, we will work with experts at the University to do our best to get as close as we can to providing parity and, most importantly, also ensure the safety of all participants. The programme will also provide participants with easy to reach contacts at the University with whom we hope you will become confident to ask if you ever have any questions or concerns.

Visual impairments

To support any participants with visual impairments we will:

Ensure that accessible routes are used/signposted at all Exeter Scholars events
Provide coloured overlays if requested
Send you subject session resources (e.g. readings, PowerPoint presentations, worksheets, etc.) in advance of subject activity sessions to use with screen reader software
Provide enough space in rooms booked for you to sit in a place where it is most comfortable for you to view any presentations that are being shared
Ensure that any session speakers are aware of the accessibility needs of the group to allow them to ensure their content and delivery approach is appropriate
Welcome you bringing an assistance dog or support worker to campus with you – please just inform us beforehand if this applies to you

Hearing impairments

To support any participants with hearing impairments we will:

Ensure our rooms and facilities for all Exeter Scholars activities/events support the use of hearing aids
Provide clear signage at all Exeter Scholars events and activities
Support participants where required when engaging in group work activities
Provide visual/written resources to support subject session content where possible
Ensure that any session speakers are aware of the accessibility needs of the group to allow them to ensure their content and delivery approach is appropriate

Mobility/physical accessibility requirements

To support any participants with mobility or physical accessibility requirements we will:

Ensure that all rooms/spaces used for Exeter Scholars activities and events are fully accessible
Ensure that accessible routes and accessible bathrooms are provided and clearly signed during all Exeter Scholars events or activities
Provide accessible routes for campus tours. Please note that all University of Exeter campuses are very hilly
Provide accessible parking spaces on campus for you to park in if travelling by car. Campus maps are also available. Please get in touch with us before subject sessions / events and we can advise the best parking bays to use
Provide one-to-one support from a Student Ambassador for moving around campus or between sessions if requested. Please note that this support does not extend to personal care linked activities whilst at events or to help with travel arrangements to and from campus
Welcome you to bring a guest or support worker with you to assist you on the day but please do inform us of this in advance.
Accessible taxi services can be found in Exeter and Penryn.

Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

To support any participants with ASD we will:

Always ensure that any change of plans to scheduled activities are communicated clearly to you as soon as possible
Provide email reminders of forthcoming subject sessions at least one week ahead of these happening, to include whenever possible details of logistics for the day such as expected group size, planned activities, food arrangements, room locations, etc. It is worth noting that whilst some Exeter Scholars events involve large numbers of guests, such as the launch event, most are smaller groups ranging between 5 – 40 people.
Provide a quiet space which can be used at any time a participant feels they would like to step away from an activity for a moment
Aim to give participants options for engaging comfortably with all subject session content and activities (for example, providing roles for group work which do not involve presenting to a group if uncomfortable doing so)
Offer you the opportunity to arrive on campus earlier than the session start time so that you can feel more familiar with the rooms/locations - please let us know if you would like to have this arranged for you.
Explain in detail the locations for your subject activity sessions so that you know where to meet ahead of the session.

ADHD

To support any participants with ADHD we will:

Ensure that subject session content is broken down into chunks and that regular short breaks are scheduled
Encourage you to bring any support techniques you use at school/college to Exeter Scholars subject sessions (e.g. fidget spinners, etc.)
Provide a quiet space which can be used at any time a participant feels they need to take a break from an activity
Always ensure that any change of plans to scheduled activities are communicated clearly to you as soon as possible
Provide email reminders of forthcoming subject sessions one/two weeks ahead of these happening, to include whenever possible details of logistics for the day such as expected group size, planned activities, food arrangements, room locations, etc.
It is worth noting that whilst some Exeter Scholars events involve large numbers of guests, such as the launch event, most are smaller groups ranging between 5 – 40 people.
Aim to give participants options for engaging comfortably with all subject session content and activities (for example, providing roles for group work which do not involve presenting to a group if uncomfortable doing so)
Explain in detail the locations for your subject activity sessions so that you know where to meet ahead of the session.

Anxiety

To support participants who experience anxiety we will:

Always ensure that any change of plans to scheduled activities are communicated clearly to you as soon as possible
Provide email reminders of forthcoming subject sessions one/two weeks ahead of these happening, to include whenever possible details of logistics for the day such as expected group size, planned activities, food arrangements, room locations, etc.
It is worth noting that whilst some Exeter Scholars events involve large numbers of guests, such as the launch event, most are smaller groups ranging between 5 – 40 people.
Provide a quiet space which can be used at any time a participant feels they would like to step away from an activity for a moment
Aim to give participants options for engaging comfortably with all subject session content and activities (for example, providing roles for group work which do not involve presenting to a group if uncomfortable doing so)
Explain in detail the locations for your subject activity sessions so that you know where to meet ahead of the session.

Eating disorders

To support any participants with eating disorders we will:

Let you know about the food available on campus for you to purchase should you wish to
Ensure that any catering we provide for you at Exeter Scholars events is clearly labelled
Make a quiet classroom space available for any participant to eat in if they wish to at any time
Let you know whether refreshments/lunch will be provided for you at Exeter Scholars events/subject sessions, but reassure you that you are always welcome to bring your own food should you prefer to

Please get in touch with us if you are attending a residential event with us so that we can ensure that you feel comfortable with the catering provided or have opportunities to go to a campus shop/bring your own food if preferred.

Chronic fatigue syndrome (ME)

To support any participants with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome we will:

Ensure that subject session content is broken down into chunks and that regular short breaks are scheduled
Provide a quiet space which can be used at any time a participant feels they would like to take a break from an activity
Talk to you about the Exeter Scholars pass criteria and time commitment if this is something you are concerned about being able to fulfil – please get in touch with us at exeterscholars@exeter.ac.uk if you wish to discuss this
Provide shorter route campus tours or alternative activities if you are worried about navigating our hilly campuses

Caring responsibilities/challenging family circumstances

To support any participants with caring responsibilities or experiencing challenging family circumstances we will:

Understand if you need to arrive late or depart a little early from any of our Exeter Scholars subject sessions or events – this won’t affect you gaining an attendance credit for that session
Support you with travel arrangements to campus for subject sessions if required – please just get in touch with us at exeterscholars@exeter.ac.uk if you ever need this support
Talk to you about the Exeter Scholars pass criteria and time commitment if this is something you are concerned about being able to fulfil – please get in touch with us at exeterscholars@exeter.ac.uk if you wish to discuss this

Dyslexia/dyspraxia

To support any participants with dyslexia or dyspraxia we will:

Ensure that subject session content is accessible and provides ways for you to engage with information that is not just through reading handouts (e.g. we will aim to break complex concepts down using diagrams, videos, etc.)
Be mindful of the impact of using different text fonts and coloured backgrounds in handouts and presentations – please do contact us directly if you require a particular font/size/colour to help you access information more comfortably
Support you using digital recorders/other tools you may use at school/college to help you
Allow plenty of time for reading activities
Send you subject session resources (e.g. readings, PowerPoint presentations, worksheets, etc.) in advance of subject activity sessions if requested

Other mental health related support

To support any participants with mental health requirements we will:

Provide approachable contacts within the Exeter Scholars team who you can inform of any trigger words or topics ahead of subject activity sessions
Talk to you about the Exeter Scholars pass criteria and time commitment if this is something you are concerned about being able to fulfil due to receiving support for a mental health related illness – please get in touch with us at exeterscholars@exeter.ac.uk if you wish to discuss this
Provide a quiet space which can be used at any time a participant feels they would like to take a break from an activity
Work with you to ensure that you feel comfortable whilst you are on campus for Exeter Scholars activities.
Please do get in touch with us at exeterscholars@exeter.ac.uk if you wish to discuss any individualised support you may need relating to OCD or any other mental health condition

Long term medical conditions

To support any participants with long term medical conditions we will:

Provide a quiet space during all Exeter Scholars subject sessions and events that can be used at any time a participant needs to step away to administer medication, etc.
Talk to you about providing safe storage of any medication you may need to bring to Exeter Scholars sessions or events with you
Provide additional support from Student Ambassadors if requested

We do encourage any participant with a long term medical condition to get in touch with us in advance of attending any events to discuss your individual circumstances and support needs so that we are best placed to support you.