How can non-medical help assist you at university? 

Around 17.3% UK higher education students said that they had a disability in 2020. For some of these students, non-medical help is vital to complete their university degree. What is non-medical help, and how exactly does it help university students succeed? 

What is non-medical help? 

Non-medical help provides disabled students with support workers to help with their studies. Any additional support that is provided by a person rather than a technology, is classed as non-medical help. 

The Non-Medical Help Allowance is to provide funding for additional support which you may require due to a disability to undertake your course on an equal basis to other students. Any additional help and support that you receive to help to maximise your potential during studies is known as non-medical help. 

This can be used to help pay for support workers or other non-medical helpers that you may need to benefit fully from your course such as a note taker, study skills tutor, library assistant or specialist mentoring support. 

Some common examples of non-medical help are: 

• British Sign Language interpreters (BSL) 
• Tactile BSL 
• Note takers/ scribes 

• Proof-readers 
• Mentors 
• IT training 
• Study skills support 
• Mobility support 

Non-medical help does not cover:  

• Subject specific tuition  
• Support that would normally be provided by Social Services 
• Diagnostic services 

How does non-medical help benefit students? 

Depending on your disability and individual needs, there are various types of non-medical help available, with a variety of benefits. Of course, the overarching benefit to receiving non-medical help is equal opportunity to succeed and get the most out of your university or college education. 

Non-medical help support workers fully understand the needs of the student, meaning that the help they offer is specifically tailored to the individual’s needs. This is a large benefit to non-medical help for many students, especially when classes are large and education providers cannot cater to these specific needs. They can help you to develop and maintain study patterns by providing support with timetabling, goal setting, and managing appropriate levels of study. They can also help you to come to terms with your diagnosis and talk to you about the potential impact on your studies.  

Support workers offer a strict level of confidentiality, punctuality, respect, and reliability whilst not participating in class discussions, providing answers, or correcting errors in your work. This allows a fair and healthy learning experience for the student receiving non-medical help – allowing them to use the support worker strictly as a tool to succeed. 

How can Wyvern assist you with non-medical help?  

Wyvern Business Systems (WBS) are one of the largest DSA Approved suppliers and offer non-medical help for students with a disability. WBS services include, assistive technology training, British sign language interpreting and student support.  

WBS trainers specialise in one-to-one training to ensure that students get a full understanding of their assistive technology. Our non-medical help services allow students to: gain better understanding and improve communication throughout their education; have equal opportunities throughout their education; and learn and develop knowledge effectively. 

As one of the largest suppliers in the DSA industry, Wyvern Business Systems offer non-medical help, assistive technology software and hardware and ergonomic products at vastly discounted prices, directly to any student. 

Contact Wyvern today to find out more about what non-medical help you can receive.