At Forth Valley College, we work hard to support all of our students. We understand that everyone is an individual and that you may require some additional support to help you achieve your full potential. You may have a condition or learning difficulty which sometimes challenges your studies.

Within our Student Support Team, we have highly experienced Learning Support Advisors (LSA) who provide learning and teaching related support to students with Additional Support Needs. We have experience of working with individuals affected by a wide range of health conditions, learning difficulties and disabilities including:

• Autistic Spectrum Disorders
• Dyslexia or Dyspraxia
• Visual impairments
• Hearing impairments
• Mobility or dexterity difficulties
• Unseen disabilities such as epilepsy
• General learning difficulties
• Health and medical conditions

If you have Additional Support Needs, it is always best to tell us in advance of starting your course so we can plan the best level of care as early as possible.  However, if you haven’t advised us yet you can do this by completing the ASN form on MyInfo or by notifying your Lecturer or Curriculum Manager.

Tell us your Additional Support information

Once we have been made aware that you may need support an LSA will be in touch to explore how we can effectively support you at College. They will conduct an assessment of your needs and discuss any reasonable adjustments that can be made to both the physical environment and learning materials. Your LSA will create a Personal Learning Support Plan with you which will detail any additional support that you need.

We will always ensure we have your agreement before anything is put in place.

Depending on your needs, additional support may include:

• Information and guidance for you and your teaching staff
• Help to access financial support, Disabled Students Allowance (Higher Education only)
• Access to assistive technology e.g. electronic spellcheckers,  digital voice recorders
• Learning Skills and Resource Assistant (LSRA) support for additional study skills
• Course materials in alternative formats e.g. audio or Braille
• Alternative Assessment Arrangements such as a reader/scribe, electronic papers, extra time.

Your LSA is assigned to specific curriculum areas and they will make your academic staff aware of any additional support that you require. We will continue to keep in touch at regular intervals to check how you are progressing and to make any changes to your support if this is needed.

After the initial meeting with your LSA or after one of your review meetings you may be referred to one of our Learning Skills and Resource Assistants (LSRA) who work in our Learning Resource Centres and are based within our Learning Services Team. Our LSRAs can help you with a range of areas:

• Study support in one-to-one or small groups
• Training in the use of specialist equipment or assistive technology/software to help with reading, writing and study skills.
• Assessment and exam preparation and advice
• Assessment arrangements e.g. invigilate when you need extra time or scribe for you
• In-class support
• Mobility assistance
• Training on how to proofread