Marvin OnumonuImpact Student Partners has launched to help disabled students access support at UK universities.
Research found nearly two thirds (63%) of students with a disability had not received adjustment support because it was hard to secure.
42% of those with a declared disability reported delays in getting help, which affected their studies.
The organisation will work with students, support workers and universities to deliver non-medical help, which is support provided to help students access their studies.
The approach includes personalised support pairing and communication, a model that returns profits to the public sector, and job-seeker support for graduates.
Charlie Bentham-Wood (pictured), founder of Impact Student Partners, said: “Our projections estimate that up to a third of UK students will require reasonable adjustment for their studies by 2030.
“From our research, we know students are faced with barriers in accessing reasonable adjustments at university.
“We can see the demand has increased for Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) funded support, and especially for those with mental health conditions.”
Bentham-Wood added: “Our role is to help ensure students receive the support they need and reduce barriers they may face during their studies.”
Students eligible for non-medical help include those with dyslexia, medically diagnosed neurodivergence, and traumatic brain injuries.
Support ranges from specialist tutoring and mentoring specific to learning differences, including autism and neurodiversity-informed approaches.
Bentham-Wood said: “We are aware that a large number of students rely on informal support services, in part because of how difficult it is to source NMH.
“Our mission is to make sure everyone who would benefit from this assistance is aware it exists and how straightforward it now is to access.
“This is why we built a large-scale national network of resources and highly skilled professionals, and our aim is to grow further to meet the needs of the sector.
“We believe everyone has enormous potential and through our partnership approach we create opportunities to help students thrive.”
