Visually impaired students from local colleges spent a day at the University of Worcester to find out more about the transition to higher education.
Students had the opportunity for a touch tour around some of the accommodation on campus and a lecture theatre, giving them a chance to explore their surroundings.
Students from New College Worcester and the Royal National College for the Blind in Hereford attended a Visual Impairment (VI) Information Day.
Organised by the University’s Disability and Dyslexia Service, the day was aimed at students who are thinking of going to university and gave them the chance learn more about what university is like before they begin applications. Both colleges are specialist institutions for students with visual impairments.
The day included a mini lecture about the Disabled Students Allowance grant and how to apply for it. There was a talk from the University’s Library Services about the support it can offer and how students can get access to resources in a way that suits them. There were also sessions focused on higher education and what to consider from a VI perspective. Here they also talked about how to navigate new friendships as a visually impaired student starting out at university.
The students had a touch tour around some of the accommodation on campus and a lecture theatre, giving them a chance to explore their surroundings.
Visiting mentors from Look UK, a national charity that supports visually impaired young people through a free peer mentoring programme, also held a workshop with the college students, where they talked about their lived experiences of life as a VI student.
Catherine Williams, Disability Adviser at the University of Worcester, said: “We know from feedback since we started running the event five years ago, that the day is very important in preparing visually impaired people for university life and all it has to offer. It was invaluable for the group to ask questions, like what is it like having a guide dog at university and how can I get my books in a format that I can read with a screen reader.”
Stephen Farr, Vice Principal at New College Worcester, said: “At New College Worcester helping students to fulfil their ambitions and be aspirational for their future is crucial to us. Our students who attended found it so insightful to learn about life after Sixth Form and all the opportunities that lie before them. It supports the work we do in college so well and students were excited to experience what their journey in education after age 18 will feel like.
“With only one in four people with a Vision Impairment in employment, partnerships such as this between NCW and UoW are really important to help realise each individual’s ambition and help make it a reality.”
Gerard Friery, Employment, Higher Education and Information, Advice and Guidance Adviser at the Royal National College for the Blind, added: “The students who attended the event all found it to be a positive, interactive experience. They considered the day to be well paced and full of valuable advice and information as they plan their applications for 2026 university entry. They were pleased to have the chance to have their questions discussed, to explore the campus and to hear the experiences of the LOOK UK mentors. We do hope we can continue to collaborate with University of Worcester at similar future events.”