Making UCLan courses accessible to all
The Specialised Learning Resource Unit (SLRU)
The Specialised Learning Resource Unit (SLRU) is a department within Student Services which provides services promoting accessibility across UCLan. These services include British Sign Language, English interpreting, translation, note-taking, transcription of learning materials, technical services enabling access to specialist equipment and software, and delivering bespoke training packages to meet individual needs.
Now it’s time to hear from those who have used it:
An English Literary Studies student has a visual impairment and used the SLRU for support…
“I am visually impaired and needed alternative formats and human support during my studies. The SLRU was a point of support, particularly in the first few months when I was completely overwhelmed and struggling to come to terms with how limited my vision was. I think the service helped keep me to get on track with things when times were difficult. I found the library support especially helpful and I wouldn't have been able to manage without it.”
A BA(Hons) Tourism Management student who is deaf needed assistance in lectures and seminars…
“I needed the services of electronic notetakers and interpreters to understand the context of the lectures and to participate with other students in seminars. At the end of my first year I was using an electronic notetaker as support in class, but I found I was not able to lip-read students and the lecturer all the time.
So in my second year, I requested a Sign Supported English (SSE) interpreter and a manual notetaker. The first lecture I had with an interpreter was a significant improvement. I felt the change was more beneficial to my learning and it was easier this way because the words of the lecturer and students could be interpreted, and this certainly helped me understand group discussions a lot better and I was able to participate more in these situations. I continued to utilise this in my third year too.”
A student studying Deaf Studies with Journalism is also partially deaf and uses a hearing aid, but was used to getting on with things without asking for support due to her hearing…
“During school and college I hadn't received or been offered any support so I was used to just getting on with it. Although I knew about the services available I chose not to use them because I felt very self conscious and felt I could manage on my own. By the time I had built up some confidence and realised I should be accessing the services I was well into my third year and then I felt it was too late. I could have accessed a notetaker which would have allowed me to concentrate on lectures properly instead of trying to lip-read and make notes at the same time. Using this service would have given me a more relaxed and focused experience of academic life at uni.”
If this is something that you feel you would need to access or you want any information, please contact:
Kay McCrea on 01772 892299, email SLRU@uclan.ac.uk
