Please see the Long Term Health Conditions Overview page for more information regarding Long Term Health Conditions.

In general, students with long term health conditions may: 

• Experience pain 
• Experience fatigue (physical, cognitive, and emotional exhaustion) 
• Have to take medication (with possible side effects) 
• Be more susceptible to stress, and illnesses could be exacerbated by times of stress. 
• Have weakened immune systems. 
• Be absent due to illness or hospitalisation. 
• Have mobility difficulties or muscle weakness. 
• Be recovering from significant surgeries or other medical procedures. 
• Experience psychological effects relating to their condition – increased risk of depression and anxiety. 

Do 

• Always reference an individual’s Inclusive Learning Plan (ILP) to be able to remove barriers to education depending on that individual’s specific needs. 

• Ask the individual over email or in person to let you know what best helps them. Do not make assumptions, as chronic illness is very individual and a highly fluctuating condition. 

• Always provide lecture recordings, sides, and notes to students – pain & fatigue alone can make it difficult for students to attend lectures and can make concentrating for extended periods difficult if attendance is possible. 

• Consider a wide range of abilities in terms of mobility and energy levels with regard to lab sessions or field trips. Allow an opportunity for students to discuss their access requirements with you, either face-to-face or via email.

• Consider making adjustments that would minimise the need for formal concessions, e.g. if a student is likely to experience problems attending a scheduled assessment, could you consider an alternative online format. 

Don’t 

• Single out a student for arriving late, leaving suddenly, or leaving early from a scheduled class or lecture. You don’t know what the student is going through, and any comments could affect long term confidence and wellbeing. 

• Consciously or subconsciously disadvantage students based on their physical ability – for example those who cannot attend frequently or cannot attend extra-curricular evening events. 

All the information you need to contact Student Support and Wellbeing.

If you require further guidance in understanding how to better implement a student’s inclusive learning plan (ILP) please contact the disability adviser listed on the plan.