Understanding the terminology - Student Services

School terminology	University of Liverpool terminology	Notes
Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND) Special Needs Special Educational Needs (SEN) Additional Needs	Disability	Universities do not use the term ‘Special Educational Needs’ as this is specific to schools and colleges. Instead, universities use the word ‘disability’. This may feel unfamiliar, but the term ‘disability’ is broad and considers any physical, mental or sensory impairment which has a significant impact on daily life, and which is long term (i.e. lasts more than 12 months). For a student, daily activities might include taking notes writing, researching, reading large amounts of text and moving between multiple locations. This includes people who are D/deaf or hearing impaired are blind or visually impaired are physically disabled, and/or have mobility difficulties have a specific learning difficulty (e.g. dyslexia) have a neurodevelopmental condition (e.g. AD(H)D) have a neurological condition (e.g. epilepsy, Tourette Syndrome, stammer) are autistic have a mental health condition have a long-term medical condition (e.g. chronic fatigue syndrome, asthma, diabetes, cancer, HIV) have a combination of these If any of these apply to you, you are likely to be eligible for support and adjustments to your learning, teaching and assessment. Although it might feel difficult or unfamiliar to use the term ‘disability’ or ‘disabled’ for the first time, remember that disability is about the barriers created by society, not about your worth, ability or intellect. Identifying as disabled gives you protection under the Equality Act 2010 and enables you to access support and adjustments.
SEND Department Additional Learning Support (ALS) Learning Support Team	Disability Advice and Guidance Team	The name given to the service or team that supports disabled students varies depending on the university. At University of Liverpool, this is the Disability Advice and Guidance Team.
Special Educational Needs (& Disabilities) Coordinator (SENCo or SENDCo) Learning Support Coordinator	Disability Advisor	The equivalent to a SENDCO at University of Liverpool are the Disability Advisors working in Disability Advice and Guidance.
Education, Health & Care Plan (EHCP) Statement of Needs Pupil Passport	Student Support Information Sheet (SSIS)	The equivalent of an EHCP or Statement at university is called different things at different universities. At University of Liverpool, it is called a Student Support Information Sheet or SSIS. If you apply for Disabled Students Allowances (DSA) you will have a Needs Assessment Report as part of the application process.

Understanding support roles at University

The roles and terminology used for support staff at university can be quite different from what you may have experienced in school or college. For example, in school you may have worked with a Teaching Assistant, Learning Support Assistant, or Specialist Teacher who provided a wide range of support.

At university, the support is often more specialised and delivered by different professionals, each focusing on a particular area. These may include:

Note takers – who attend your lectures and take notes on your behalf

Specialist mentors – who support with managing mental health, organisation, and time management

Study skills tutors – who provide one-to-one sessions to help with academic techniques such as structuring essays, referencing, and reading strategies

Each of these roles are typically delivered by different people, and your support package may include one or more of these depending on your needs and funding (such as through Disabled Students’ Allowance).

This more targeted support model can take a bit of getting used to, especially if you're used to one person supporting you across multiple tasks. However, this approach ensures that you receive expert guidance in each area.

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