Your Support – FAQs
We are looking forward to supporting you!
We’ve provided DSA learning support to thousands of students. Over 97% of our students would recommend us – you are in good hands.
Our Support Consultants are all highly experienced, qualified, and ready to get your support started!
Some questions you may have about your support are below, or you can give us a call, 01822 600060:
How does my support start?
Send us your funding body award letter and we will make all the arrangements, a Support Consultant will make contact with you to introduce themselves and arrange the first session, you don’t need to do anything!
Where will my support be?
Your support will most likely be on campus, but we can support you wherever it is appropriate and suitable for you. You can discuss this with us, or directly with your Support Consultant.
Is my support discrete?
Yes! Your support will be discrete and confidential. We will always ask your consent to share your information.
Will there be lots of paperwork?
No! We keep paperwork to an absolute minimum, to ensure your hours can be focussed on giving you the support you need.
Can I change my support consultant?
Specialist Mentoring
What is Specialist Mentoring?
Specialist Mentors provide support to students who have either a mental health condition, an autistic spectrum condition including Asperger Syndrome or other difficulties.
This support is built around your individual needs, to enable you to reach your full academic potential. Mentors can help you explore how your condition affects your university studies, helping you to develop the most appropriate studying strategies for you.
The aim is to gradually reduce your need for Specialist Mentoring support as you build your skills, so that you can fully engage in university life and integrate successfully into the workplace after leaving university.
What does your mentor do?
Mentor Support is tailored to your individual needs. We typically assist you with things such as:
- Identifying barriers to learning
- Time management and organisation
- Motivation and confidence building
- Accessing academic support and guidance
- Managing your course requirements (e.g speaking in seminars, giving presentations)
- Managing change and difficult emotions
- Dealing with difficult social situations
- Developing your social and communication skills
- Clarifying course expectations
- Having a healthy work/life balance
What can I expect during a session?
Your mentor will work with you on a one-to-one basis. The first session will focus on getting to know you and understand the ways in which you need support. The following sessions will focus on developing strategies and techniques to help you deal with challenges and enable you to reach your full potential by accessing your course effectively. Mentoring sessions typically last for one hour. After your first session, future sessions are booked directly with your mentor.
What do we expect from you?
We hope you will attend all booked specialist mentoring sessions. If you cannot attend, then we ask that you give your mentor at least 24 hours notice. Working with your mentor you will develop a brief Support Plan which you will update from time to time.
We welcome your feedback at any time.
Specialist Study Skills
What is Specialist Study Skills Support?
One-to-one Specialist Study Skills tuition is available for students with Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD) including Dyslexia and Dyspraxia. Study Skills can help you develop learning strategies that will work for you.
Study Skills support is not subject specific, and your tutor cannot do your work for you. But they will be excited in supporting you to develop techniques that lead to your academic success.
What does your Study Skills Tutor do?
Support is tailored to your needs, and will typically help you to do things such as:
- Enhance your research skills
- Plan your work and manage your time effectively
- Referencing and sourcing data
- Unpack your assignment questions
- Structure your assignments and information
- Revise effectively
- Develop your proof reading skills
- Plan for working under exam conditions
What can I expect during a session?
The first session will focus on establishing your learning priorities with your tutor. Following sessions will build on this, with an emphasis on enhancing transferable study skills that will enable you to reach your full potential. Future sessions are booked directly with your tutor following your first session.
What do we expect from you?
We hope you will attend all booked Study Skills sessions. If you cannot attend, then we ask that you give your tutor at least 24 hours notice.
Working with your tutor you will develop a brief Support Plan which you will update from time to time.
We welcome your feedback at any time.
assistive technology training
Why is Assistive Technology Important?
Assistive Technology (AT) Training is super important to support your university academic learning.
Your training is individually tailored and will concentrate on ensuring that you get the best from your specialist software, and also how AT links with study strategies, both of which will enable you to improve your learning skills.
Training is suitable for technology beginners and experts alike. Even if you have good computer skills you’ll find it helps to have an experienced trainer on hand to work out how assistive technology can help achieve your study goals.
What is Assistive Technology Training?
If your Needs Assessment recommends assistive technology training, you are strongly advised to take up this option. Your assistive technology might include software such as mind-mapping, text-to-speech, note-taking and recording, speech-to-text, spelling and grammar, referencing – any of which can make a big difference to your study success.
Our trainers are experts on a wide range of Assistive Technologies and can provide one to one training to enable you to develop your independent learning. Your training can take place at a location convenient for you and is available either ahead of your course beginning or at any time during your studies.
QUOTE: It was so much better getting proper training on my software rather than muddling through – knowing the shortcuts made it so much easier and quicker in lectures to capture notes and process them.
Who we are…
Amano Student Support has a friendly team of fully qualified specialst mental health and AS mentors, study skills tutors and assistive technology trainers. We provide support for students studying at all levels and in any subject at university. We also provide other types of academic support.
Further information
If you require any further information please contact Amano Student Support
01822 600 060 or email dsa@amanotech.com