Further and higher education

Many people with epilepsy go on to study in further or higher education. There are many factors to consider when choosing a college or university, especially for a student with epilepsy who may be living away from home for the first time. Alcohol, stress, irregular meals, lack of sleep and recreational drugs can all increase the risk of seizures. Colleges and universities have responsibilities under the disability discrimination laws and may be able to help students with epilepsy in various ways. For example, a college may give priority for campus accommodation to a person with epilepsy, or provide an LCD monitor for someone with photosensitive epilepsy. Similar structures exist for SEN in further and higher education, although they are not exactly the same as the SEN framework for under-16 pupils.

In higher education (for example universities) policies and procedures for students with disabilities and SEN are made by each university or college. Most higher education policies are similar to authorities’, and extra help may be available too. Some students may be eligible for the Disabled Student’s Allowance (DSA), and applications for DSA are made to the local authority through the university or college.