Disabled Students

• In the UK, 19% of working age adults identify as disabled, yet disabled people are almost half as likely to have an undergraduate degree than non-disabled people (Office for Students, 2021),
• There are 514,310 students with a known disability in the UK in the year 2023/2024 shared by HESA in 2025.
• UCAS (2022) shared that disabled applicants are more likely to defer entry to HE: before the COVID-19 pandemic, disabled students were 23% more likely to defer entry than non-disabled students, rising to 28% in 2021.
• Students’ decision making is significantly influenced by the support services and inclusive practises in place. (UCAS, 2022) Only 17% of respondents felt satisfied with access to inclusive extra-curricular activities at school or college, whereas 44% expect the social opportunities at university or college to be good or excellent, highlighting the importance of inclusive activity within Higher Education settings. (UCAS, 2022)
• The proportion of students who disclose themselves as disabled or as having a mental health condition is rising. Despite this, disabled people remain underrepresented in higher education. (OfS, 2020)
• A rise in disabled students in HE: In 2021, 83,220 disabled students applied to HE – a record high – with 80% getting a place at university or college. The 105% increase in students sharing an impairment or condition means disabled students now represent 14% of all HE applicants in the UK, compared to just 7% in 2012 (UCAS, 2022)
• Mental Health conditions: Significant increase in students reporting a mental health condition, as the number more than doubled between 2014/15 and 2018/19, as well as an increase of 90% in students reporting a social communication or autism spectrum disorder in the same time period. In a 2022, a survey by the mental health charity Student Minds, showed that 57% of respondents self-reported a mental health issue (PDF) and 27% said they had a diagnosed mental health condition. (Student Minds, 2022)
• There are a number of possible reasons for these increases, including an increase in diagnosis in the general population and willingness of students to disclose, as well as efforts to increase access to higher education by those in traditionally underrepresented or marginalised groups. (Arriving at Thriving, 2020)
• In recent years, the government’s work in this area has included:
• setting up a ‘Higher education mental health implementation taskforce’
• appointing academic experts from the National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Safety in Mental Health to undertake a ‘National Review of HE Suicides’
• asking the Office for Students (OfS), which regulates higher education in England, to allocate funding towards student mental health
• working with the OfS to provide Student Space, a dedicated mental health and wellbeing platform for students
• working with the higher education sector in support of the Suicide Safer Universities framework and the Stepchange framework
• writing to all higher education providers to ask them to sign up to the University Mental Health Charter programme by the end of 2026
• recruiting 8,500 additional staff across children and adult NHS mental health services. (UK Parliament, 2025)
• Discrimination and Harassment: According to NUS (National Union of Students) in 2011, 43% of disabled students reported altering their behaviour, personal appearance, or daily patterns to avoid hate incidents. This often meant going out less, which in some cases led to respondents becoming socially withdrawn and isolated. Some tried to conceal their impairment, sometimes to the extent of causing themselves pain.
• Reporting levels of disability hate crime and hate incidents were extremely low. Twenty-one per cent of disability hate incidents were reported to an official at the university or college. However, only 12 per cent of disability hate incidents were reported to the police (NUS, 2011)
• Twenty-seven per cent of victims reported that hate incidents had had a negative impact on their studies. In addition, these experiences affected their participation in university or college social activities such as clubs, sports and societies. (NUS, 2011)
• Cuts to Financial Support: The Disabled Students Allowance is currently available to students in the United Kingdom who have a disability, long-term health condition, mental health condition or specific learning difficult. Government cuts to the DSA (Disabled Students Allowance) jeopardise disabled students’ access and success in higher education.
•  In February 2024, the Student Loans Company (SLC) introduced a new process for DSA applications in England and Wales, aiming to streamline the delivery of needs assessments, assistive technology and training. (Thomas Pocklington Trust, 2025)
• As of February 2025, the average DSA processing time has increased to 119 days, up from 92 days previously, a 30% increase. (Thomas Pocklington Trust, 2025)
• Costs associated with accessibility: this can surround cost of accessible accommodation; medical prescriptions; the £200 charge for DSA equipment; the cost of medical evidence required for needs assessments or mitigating circumstances forms (Hepi, 2020)
• Living and social experiences: 26% of respondents to a new report on disabled students in HE called “Arriving at Thriving” stated that they always or often feel excluded from social activities, societies and clubs because of a lack of disability awareness. (Hepi, 2020) Hopefully, we can bridge that gap with our Disability Student Community meet ups and societies paving the way in disability awareness and support.
• According to research from the Russell Group Students’ Unions (RGSU), disabled students are already among those most negatively affected by the cost-of-living crisis
• In Parliament’s Invisible Disabilities in Education and Employment Briefing, it is estimated that 70-80% of disabilities are invisible. (2023)
• Disabled students are twice as likely to identify as LGBTQ+ (UCAS, 2022)

Did you know we have a Disability Society? It's just one of the many amazing groups you can get involved with! Explore all the societies we have to offer at the Liverpool Guild by visiting: https://www.liverpoolguild.org/groups.
You can even filter the page by category to easily find the societies that match your interests.

Every year, we celebrate Disability History Month as part of our wider More Than a Month campaign. This important month recognises the history and progress of the disability rights movement, while also commemorating the achievements and contributions of disabled people in society.

It’s a time to reflect on the ongoing challenges faced by disabled individuals, raise awareness of disability issues, and advocate for a more inclusive and accessible future.

The Guild hosts a range of activities for students to get involved in. In previous years, this has included events such as a Disability History Month quiz, zine-making workshops, and meet-ups for disabled students.

If you have any ideas about how we can celebrate Disability History Month this year, we’d love to hear from you — please get in touch!
Liberation inbox - liberation@liverpool.ac.uk 

Disabled student-led and focussed campaign wins include

• Educational Psychologist Assessments – Guild campaign work has fought for the University to fund the full cost of these assessments, which are required for accessing support for diagnosed conditions such as Dyslexia, ADHD, Dyspraxia & Dyscalculia. The Officers have also worked for the uni to pay these costs upfront, and better publicise the support on offer for disabled students.
• Prioritising Mental Health – Officers have done extensive work on improving vital mental health services at the University. Wins include reducing waiting list times, an increase in counselling staff and upskilling staff with further training.
• Your current Guild President Othman hosted a number of Take a Break sessions full of free activities to encourage students to have a rest from revision. The officer team love a free breakfast, a Crafternoon or a movie in the Guild’s very own cinema room!

A recent addition to the building is our Guild Quiet Room! A permanent space for students to take a break from busy campus life. The space is equipped with comfy décor, fidget toys and prayer mats so you can take a moment for yourself.

For more information about our campaigns, please visit the campaigns hub https://www.liverpoolguild.org/making-change/campaigns-hub/

1. The A Word

2. Special

3. Silent Witness

4. Sex Education

5. One Day at a Time

6. The Society

7. No Offence

8. The Politician

9. The Last Leg

10. Maniac

11. Deaf U

12. Love on the Spectrum

13. Breaking Bad

14. Line of Duty

15. Speechless

1. Alex Brooker: Disability + Me

2. Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot

3. Ray

4. The Peanut Butter Falcon

5. Still Alice

6. Take His Legs

7. The Fundamentals of Caring

8. The Theory of Everything

9. A Beautiful Mind

10. Daredevil

11. A Quiet Place – Part 1 + 2

12. My Left Foot

1. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

2. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

3. Wonder by R.J. Palacio

4. The Amazing Edie Eckhart by Rosie Jones

5. Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling

6. I’m Special: And Other Lies We Tell Ourselves by Ryan O’Connell

7. Frida Kahlo’s Diary

8. Hyperbole and a half

9. Blind not Broken

10. Disfigured: On Fairy Tales, Disability and Making Space

• Mind’s Guide to Learning Disability support - https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/guides-to-support-and-services/learning-disability-support/
• Autism Radio UK Autism Radio UK - was established to remove barriers of social communication for people with Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome. It broadcasts music, interviews, talks, competitions and topics about Autism related issues. You can listen to the station live from their website. www.autisticradio.com
• Disability Direct - Disability Direct is a directory of disability groups (charities and voluntary organisations), companies and service providers from all around the UK providing support and resources to disabled people. It also includes disability news, articles and events. www.disabilitydirect.com
• UCAS’ Disabled Students page - This is designed to take students through the entire university process, so begins with information about applications, but further down the page they have all the information you will need about applying for DSA (Disabled Students Allowance), support with transitions and Fitness to Practice info to keep you informed of your rights https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/applying-university/individual-needs/disabled-students
• Disability Rights - UK publishes a comprehensive guide to applying to higher education, and getting support – Read Into Higher Education
• Calling All Minds - is an organisation that works to improve inclusivity. Check out their guide to free resources to support disabled and neurodiverse students. We also recommend you read their DSA: Find your way page.
• The National Association of Disability Practitioners - (NADP) works with professionals who support disabled students in post-16 education. Read their blog article, Working for a successful student journey for disabled students, which explains who to contact at your university or college, and how a disability adviser can support you through your journey to uni.
• For a student’s own experience with mental health related conditions at university, read Zoe’s story.
• Ability Net - helps disabled people access and use technology, and offers free advice and resources — how they can help you and what support you may be eligible for.
• Student Minds and UMHAN - have created three joint blogs: Disclosing a mental health difficulty on your UCAS application, The benefits of disclosing a mental health difficulty, and Disclosing a mental health difficulty: your rights

• Guild Advice Free, independent, non-judgemental advice on a range of topics including academic issues, wellbeing, accommodation, and university life.
• University of Liverpool Disability Student Support Part of the University’s Student Services offering help and advice to disabled students, including campus accessibility, exam arrangements, funding and how to access disability support for your studies:
• University of Liverpool Support for Disabled International Students This section of the University’s Student Services details information about help and support the university can provide to international, disabled students: 
• University of Liverpool Library Disability Support Assistance Comprehensive list of all accessibility support offered by the libraries, including AccessAble guide maps as well as how to borrow books, request specific material and book study spaces: 
• University of Liverpool Money Advice and Guidance Part of the University’s Student Services offering money managing advice, on things like loans, financial support for carers, emergency short term loans and support schemes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic such as quarantine cost support.