Uni’s offering Contextual offers for Disabled applicants

[Tirangapete]

My DD is deaf and education is very challenging for her

I’m trying to compile a list of Universities that support and offer contextual offers for Deaf young people or disabled young people

she is a very hard working but academics are challenging for her but with support and reasonable adjustments I’m 100% sure she will thrive at university

welcome any support or advice

York St John would give you a point for disability, if you meet other criteria to get other points you could get a contextual offer but I’m not aware of any other schemes. Disability doesn’t usually count for contextual schemes, but universities might have a mitigating circumstances or similar form that allows them to consider your application with some additional info and potentially accept you if you miss the offer. There’s not a central index though you’d have to check the universities you’re interested in to see what they offer.

Also to add, if she hasn’t already thought about it she should definitely be applying for Disabled Students Allowance, and engage with Disability Support at the Uni to see what they provide direct.

Reading and Essex both count that type of disability as eligible for a contextual offer

Thank you so much

What's her expected grades/ quals? Some universities are more generous in the adjustment than others hence my question

Mine got a contextual offer from Bournemouth, I think the criteria was being in receipt of PIP, a few years ago.

Ds (who is autistic) got a contextual offer from Queen Mary. BBB rather than standard offer of ABB. He doesn't qualify in any other way for contextual so definitely due to disability

My son had a contextual offer from Worcester, he ticked several of their boxes including disability (ASD) He's in his second year and very happy with the support he's had.
I think the majority of universities do now offer a contextual offer scheme, the usual criteria are disability, ethnicity and experience of the care system, some may have other criteria as well.
Look at the uni websites - inclusion policies, widening participation

That isn’t correct I’m afraid. The vast majority of universities that ask for grades rather than points don’t give contextual offers for disability. Some of those that ask for points (which tend to be the lower ranking universities) do but many don’t.

And I’m not aware of a single university that makes contextual offers for ethnicity since that would be discriminatory

Following with interest. All the unis I’ve looked at won’t consider contextual offers for disability. It seems they think thats already been covered by SEN Support and exam accommodations in school…. Good to know about Queen Mary tho so maybe I need to check a few more…

University of Surrey include it within their contextual offer if your daughter attends a state school.
Personally, I think that it should be included within contextual offers at all universities since disabilities with unavoidably have had some sort of impact upon education.

I think Kings do take account of ethnicity in subjects where a particular ethnicity has historically not been well represented. Their 6th form was set up on the same basis as a feeder to the uni programme for diversity. Sadly disability isn’t counted

Lots of places that used to give contextual offers to those with disabilities such as Surrey Swansea no longer do it due to the exponential increase in the numbers of students with conditionals like ADHD (often also not professionally diagnosed)

This is kings
www.kcl.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/how-to-apply/contextualised-admissions

This is surrey
https://www.surrey.ac.uk/apply/undergraduate/contextual-offers

it literally changed this year. Previously disability was a category

They still do contextual for disabilities as part of the In2Surrey offer which is below the top automatic contextual offer.

Ah yes apologies. Previously they had it as a stand alone automatic criteria

Completely easy to overlook. We are looking at Surrey for our son- not for a couple of years, however he has Asperger's so big transitions need a bit more planning. Contextual criteria may well have changed again by then given what you're saying.

Not sure this is true either.
Disability is a flag on the ucas form. Many universities will make a lower offer, but don’t always advertise why they are making a lower offer. Contextual offers are not guaranteed and they can change from year to year.
Go by predicted grades, and research universities a grade or two above. Go visit, and when you do, go see the Disability Support Team. University support can vary wildly so you need to talk to them.

@user6372812

So my son didn't get a contextual offer then
How strange considering he's in his second year

100% should be

My DC got a contextual offer from Lincoln where they referenced having a disability being as part of the decision. I have also heard good things about their support. HTH.

We were given a list by DCs learning support tutor but it changed quite a bit from the start of year 12 to the start of year 13.

I believe some of them do but it's not widely advertised. It's more likely to be the Universities with better disability support that will do it. DD1 is at Leicester and has ASD. She got through with slightly lower grades but didn't get a contextual offer before results day. She just got a 'Congratulations' email!

Do you know where she's looking? Uclan and Wolverhampton are brilliant for Deaf students.