1 00:00:31,560 --> 00:00:35,600 If a disabled student applied to the LSE, which is something that happens very commonly 2 00:00:35,601 --> 00:00:38,000 - we have a lots of disabled students here - 3 00:00:38,001 --> 00:00:41,920 the first piece of advice I would give them is that they are exceptionally welcome. 4 00:00:41,921 --> 00:00:44,000 We are delighted that they are going to be coming here. 5 00:00:44,401 --> 00:00:48,480 Our role, apart from being really welcoming towards students, 6 00:00:48,521 --> 00:00:52,600 is just to work with them so we can work out what sorts of adjustments 7 00:00:52,601 --> 00:00:56,800 which are going to help them to access everything that is on offer here. 8 00:00:57,880 --> 00:01:01,120 Living in the centre of London was quite initially a shock, 9 00:01:01,121 --> 00:01:05,920 coming from Northern Ireland. We don't really have a busy metropolis. 10 00:01:06,480 --> 00:01:09,360 Social life for students at the LSE is great. 11 00:01:09,361 --> 00:01:13,920 Particularly there are so many different societies and they all organise different events. 12 00:01:13,921 --> 00:01:17,200 There are things you can go to and meet-up with people with likeminded interests. 13 00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:24,680 As a part-time student I find the LSE great because I have a lot more time to process things. 14 00:01:24,681 --> 00:01:30,920 I work alongside and I can go to public lectures which I have time for on top of my classes. 15 00:01:30,920 --> 00:01:37,880 It is very academically rigorous and everybody is really enthusiastic, particularly at master's level. 16 00:01:38,520 --> 00:01:43,700 The professors are people who at the top of their field and at the forefront of the research that they are doing, 17 00:01:43,701 --> 00:01:48,360 and the students are the people that are poised to become those people in the future. 18 00:01:48,720 --> 00:01:51,560 I am here at the LSE as the community service volunteer 19 00:01:51,561 --> 00:01:56,800 which means that I am here as volunteer and I help in the Disability and Well-being Office. 20 00:01:56,801 --> 00:02:01,200 As a CSV a sometimes take people to the airport or collect them from the airport 21 00:02:01,201 --> 00:02:06,000 because they are newly arrived here in London and it might be hard for them to get around. 22 00:02:07,080 --> 00:02:10,840 As a student and a member of staff you just have so much interaction 23 00:02:10,841 --> 00:02:16,240 with so many different types of people, culturally, and just different mindsets. 24 00:02:17,600 --> 00:02:22,800 What makes the LSE special I think are the environments like the library. 25 00:02:22,801 --> 00:02:30,080 The library is not just a library. It is a place where people find their peace during the day. 26 00:02:30,800 --> 00:02:32,760 Well there are two kinds of study support. 27 00:02:32,761 --> 00:02:37,680 There is general offering which is on areas of how to complete your studies, 28 00:02:37,681 --> 00:02:40,480 whether on the quantitative or qualitative discipline side 29 00:02:40,481 --> 00:02:46,920 - how to write essays, dissertations, do particular kinds of analysis, statistical regression and so on, 29 00:02:47,000 --> 00:02:50,040 and we offer those on a large scale. 30 00:02:50,080 --> 00:02:53,720 We do that on the course and programme level, and also one-to-one. 31 00:02:53,721 --> 00:02:55,920 This is open to all students at the school. 32 00:02:57,080 --> 00:03:01,200 There are very specific things that we can do, for example, the neurodiversity team 33 00:03:01,201 --> 00:03:07,000 works closely with students on study strategies, on accessing assistive technologies, 34 00:03:07,001 --> 00:03:09,000 so there is also peer support going on. 35 00:03:09,280 --> 00:03:15,880 We have a co-coordinator for mental health and well- being who works very closely with the counselling service, 36 00:03:15,881 --> 00:03:22,080 and can offer students 1-2-1 appointments to address issues to do with their mental health and well-being, 37 00:03:22,720 --> 00:03:28,120 and all sort of things really, and it is very, very individual and so we do not think: 38 00:03:28,121 --> 00:03:33,000 "This is the package for deaf students", we think: "What do you, as a student with a hearing impairment, 39 00:03:33,001 --> 00:03:34,720 need specifically." 40 00:03:35,480 --> 00:03:38,960 The DWO have a range of services for disabled students, 41 00:03:38,961 --> 00:03:43,200 but also works within the context of Teaching and Learning Centre 42 00:03:43,201 --> 00:03:49,200 and with the understanding that disability equality is a shared responsibility across the whole of the LSE. 43 00:03:49,360 --> 00:03:56,920 So effectively the DWO coordinates all sorts of things that happen across the whole of the LSE. For example, 44 00:03:56,921 --> 00:04:04,300 if a student needs exam arrangements which are disability related, the DWO will work with the exams service. 45 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:10,000 LSE has been extremely helpful in all of the services they offer for students with mental health disabilities, 46 00:04:10,001 --> 00:04:17,280 in terms of counselling, in terms of academic support, and in terms of the agreements they have with students. 47 00:04:17,400 --> 00:04:21,480 So they have been extremely helpful in providing me with very useful counselling, and also with 48 00:04:21,481 --> 00:04:26,280 the student support agreement that allows me to have more flexibility about deadlines, 49 00:04:26,281 --> 00:04:30,800 and about the exact parameters of the work I am expected to do for my studies. 50 00:04:31,400 --> 00:04:37,200 All of these are available for everybody, so please don't be afraid to ask, and don't be afraid to look 51 00:04:37,201 --> 00:04:41,080 for support, because there is a lot of stuff available which you might not expect. 52 00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:47,200 Just talk to us early. Ask us any questions you like. Talk to us as often as you like. 53 00:04:47,201 --> 00:04:52,800 And just be proactive in that way, so that we can get things in place as quickly as possible.