Visually impaired students from local colleges visited the University of Worcester to find out more about the transition to higher education and things to consider.
Students from New College Worcester and the Royal National College for the Blind in Hereford attended a Visual Impairment (VI) Information Day, which was organised by the University’s Disability and Dyslexia Service.
The day was aimed at students who were thinking of going to university and gave them the chance learn more about what university is like before they begin applications. Both colleges are specialist institutions for students with visual impairments. One college told how, following the visit, a student who had written off going to university had been inspired to look into it having heard about the support available.
The day included a mini lecture about the Disabled Students Allowance grant and the process of applying for it. There was a talk from the University’s Library Services about the support it can offer and how students can get access to resources in a way that suits them. There were also interactive sessions focused on some of the questions to consider before going to university, how to go about choosing a university and the benefits of higher education.
The students had a touch tour around some of the accommodation on campus and a lecture theatre, giving them a chance to explore their surroundings in a more hands on way.
Visiting mentors from Look UK, a national charity that supports visually impaired young people through a free peer mentoring programme, also spoke to the college students about their lived experiences of life as a VI student, and the important questions, considerations and accommodations disabled students should make when preparing for this next step.
Catherine Williams, Disability Adviser at the University of Worcester, said: “Visually impaired students have so many extra considerations when going off to university, so it is really important they do all the right planning and that they understand how to arrange support in good time. We wanted to bring together all of the expertise we could so that we could offer the best advice and set up visually impaired students for success. It is harder for people with little or no vision to fully imagine a university if they have never been and if they can’t see the pictures in a prospectus or online. Experiencing a lecture theatre and having a touch tour of student accommodation is valuable in bringing it all to life.”
Rachael McGirr, Psychology and Health & Social Care teacher at New College Worcester, said: “Our students found the VI Information Day incredibly beneficial, especially being able to hear about real experiences of VI people who have been to university from the Look UK mentors. They found the advice given very practical and realistic. One of our students in particular had previously written off going to university as they did not think it was possible for them to attend: after the VI Information Day, that student has been inspired to look into going to university now that they are aware of the support available for VI students, and hearing that it certainly is possible to be successful in university with a VI.”
Gerard Friery, Employment and Information, Advice and Guidance Adviser at the Royal National College for the Blind, said: “We’re very grateful that our students were once again invited to attend this unique and very beneficial event. The students all enjoyed the different aspects of the day, they considered it well paced and full of valuable advice and information as they plan their applications for 2025 university entry.”