Further Higher Education

An established team working with children, young people and young adults from birth through to post-graduate studies, Bolton Sensory Support Service (Thomasson Memorial Sensory Support Service) has the in-depth knowledge, understanding and experience needed to support students with visual impairments in Further and Higher Education and enable them to reach their full potential.

Our flexible, welcoming team takes a holistic approach to supporting students.  Our goal is for the students we work with to have a fully inclusive and immersive experience at university and to fulfil their academic potential.

Support is bespoke, tailored to each student’s chosen course and location and reflecting their preferred methods of communication, as well as their learning, educational history, experience and individual needs.  In discussion with students, a Specialist Support Professional for Students with Vision Impairment (SSPVI) will gain knowledge of the support delivered prior to their entry into Higher Education (HE) and build on this to frame the support provided in the new learning environment.  This may include developing strategies for research and composition; working on essays and the structure and delivery mode of presentations; organisation; time management; communication or anything else a student might need extra support with due to their vision impairment.

This is not subject specialist support, but rather support designed to enable access to the subject and facilitate independent learning and, as such, is appropriate across a range of academic disciplines and levels.  The SSPVI is in a unique position, giving them an in-depth understanding of the individual needs of the student.  If required, and with the student’s permission, the SSPVI is able to provide bespoke advice to the HE Provider’s disability team and teaching staff on what adjustments can be made in order to better provide an inclusive learning environment for the student.

In addition to SSPVIs, our Service provides sighted guides, support assistants and specialist transcription services.  Excluding sighted guide support, these roles can be delivered in person or remotely and so distance is no issue – we currently support students from a variety of institutions across the north of England.

As an Accredited DSA NMH Provider, the roles we offer can be funded through Disabled Student Allowance (DSA) or directly through FE and HE institutions.

We firmly believe that this type of support can be crucial to students with visual impairment accessing their course successfully at university.  If this type of support is not offered by your needs assessor, you can ask for it to be put into place, at any point during your course.  If you would like to discuss the support we offer, whether you are a student, institution or a DSA assessor, please feel free to contact us on sss@thomasson.bolton.sch.uk or 01204 333120

The roles we support through DSA are:

Band 4

Specialist Support Professional for Students with Visual Impairments

Band 3

Specialist Transcription Service

Band 2

Study Assistant

Examination Support Worker

Note Taker

Band 1

Practical Support Assistant

Library Support Assistant

Reader

Scribe

Sighted Guide

Proof Reader

Our DSA NMH costs for the roles we deliver is available at Find an NMH Provider (nmhproviders.co.uk)

We are listed under Bolton Sensory Support Service