Disabled Students

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Disability and Neurodivergence at LSE
Disability:

Under the UK Equality Act 2010, disability is defined as a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long‑term adverse effect on a person’s ability to carry out normal day‑to‑day activities. This legal definition includes a wide range of experiences, from physical and sensory impairments to long‑term health conditions and many neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia and dyspraxia, where these have a significant impact on daily life.

Neurodivergence:
Neurodivergence refers to the natural variation in how people think, learn and process information. UK public bodies, including ACAS and the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, describe neurodivergent people as those whose brains function differently from what is considered “typical.” This includes autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia and other forms of cognitive diversity. While not all neurodivergent people identify as disabled, many neurodivergent conditions meet the legal definition of disability under the Equality Act because they can create barriers in environments designed around neurotypical norms.
LSESU recognises disability and neurodivergence as integral parts of human diversity. We are committed to creating an inclusive, accessible and equitable environment where disabled and neurodivergent students can access support, advocate for their needs and thrive academically, socially and personally.

LSESU has seven Part-Time Officers who represent students at the highest level of the Students’ Union. The Neurodiversity and Disability Officer is one of these! They are tasked with representing neurodiverse and disabled students in the SU’s Executive Committee, and will also often be a representative within university spaces. This means that students will always have a voice advocating on their behalf in these spaces. You can find out how to get in touch with this year’s Neurodiversity and Disability Officer here. 

Disabled and Neurodiverse students also have access to LSE’s My Adjustments (MAs) system. This is how you can get tailored support for your individual support needs, and we recommend reaching out to the Wellbeing Service as soon as possible to get these sorted! In order to get access to My Adjustments, you first need to book an appointment with a Disability or Mental Health Adviser, which you can do here. 

If you want to find out about accessibility information for buildings on campus, check out LSE’s page on accessable.co.uk. 

The LSESU Advice Service offers an open and inclusive service on a range of issues such as housing, academic and funding support to all current students at the LSE. This includes providing any reasonable adjustments you may need to access the service. For more information visit Advice Service.