Transitioning To University During Covid-19

In this article we will be looking at 7 tips for transitioning to university during Covid-19.

Check your University for specific updates regarding Covid-19

Get educated on how your university is handling the pandemic.  They will likely have a support page with details on how they are being affected and what they are doing to overcome any difficulties experienced. Many Universities also have a frequently asked questions page In relation to the coronavirus which may be a great place to start. Just do a quick Google search for your university + Covid 19.

Get Informed about your course.

In order to make sure that you have selected the best course for you, it is vital that you understand how your course is structured. Look for details on how it’s going to be taught, how it’s assessed and what you are required to do as a student. Don’t be afraid to get really technical, it’s in your best interest to understand how the current global pandemic affects how you’ll be taught and assessed.

If there is insufficient information available on your university’s website, then get in contact with your course leader or the student support team. They should be able to provide you with information on any changes you need to make in order to make the most out of your university experience.

Attend a virtual open day.

It is likely that your university will be hosting a virtual open day. Attending this is a useful way to get used to the university’s layout and the best way to check out how accessible the buildings are and whether or not you vibe with the university environment.

Reach out to fellow students online

In light of Covid-19, more people are socialising online than ever before. Make sure you take advantage of this by signing up to your university’s Facebook group. Here you will be able to find other students on your course or discover your neighbours before moving into halls. Be proactive and make the most of this, if you can make a few acquaintances before you even attend university you will have made a head start.

Prepare yourself for University life

If you’re going to be living alone for the first time, you’ll need to learn how to budget, cook and do your own laundry. It may take some getting used to, so it’s always advisable to get some practice in before you begin.

Check out our videos on 7 tips for making friends in freshers

How to survive financially at University

If you have additional needs get in touch with your disability team

In light of Covid-19, now more than ever your university is poised to make sure you get the very best learning experience. One of the ways with which they hope to achieve this is by ensuring that students with additional needs can still access the support they need.

However, the university won’t know about your particular needs unless you tell them, so your very first task is to get in touch with your disability advisor. A google search with the name of your university followed by disability team should bring up the details of someone to contact.

If you intend to move into Halls of Residence and have additional needs, you may need to make enquiries about the suitability of available accommodation. If you feel the accommodation isn’t suitable for your needs, you should ask what reasonable adjustments can be put in place by your university e.g. if you require ensuite accommodation for medical reasons. 

Apply for the Disabled Students Allowances (DSA)

Make sure you take advantage of the available funding options available such as the Disabled Students Allowances (DSA), and try to get yours in place before the beginning of the academic year.

To learn more about the DSA watch our video below.

 

If you haven’t applied for the Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA), you can get all the information you need to do so right here and start your application here.

Good luck on your course.

A2B Assessments.

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For a great number of people worldwide, digital screen-time has significantly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. In times when social distancing and isolation have become essential, modern technologies have made it possible to work, study, and live remotely.

With the help of the internet and technology; work, education and socialising have all moved online.

While taking advantage of this technology, we can lose track of how much time we spend on our devices and the impact this may have on our mental health.

Why is Digital Detox Important?

Research suggests that non-stop connectivity is linked to stress, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and other mental health issues. If you spend a lot of time in front of the screen, it is probably necessary to practice a digital detox: take breaks and refrain from using your smartphone, social media and other tech devices for a period of time.

Heavy Device Use Affects Mental Health

Heavy device use can cause mental health concerns, particularly among adolescents and young adults. Different studies showed that passive Facebook use leads to declines in emotional well-being over time by increasing envy in people.

Constant connectivity makes it hard to feel content and happy with your life. The fear of missing out (FOMO), as well as social pressures, may cause you to present yourself in one way online while you actually feel differently. This feeling of “not being yourself” can trigger feelings of dissatisfaction and unhappiness.

Under constant pressure from social media to filter and adapt, many young people tend to sacrifice their values, emotions, and needs, just to fit in. Unrealistic expectations, social pressures, FOMO, and comparing ourselves to others make our experiences seemingly gloomy and isolating, triggering feelings of loneliness, worthlessness, and depression.

Detoxing from social media can be a great way to stop comparing yourself to others and focus on more important things in your life.

How to Do a Digital Detox

Taking a break from your devices can benefit your mood, stress levels, and mental well-being. However, a digital detox doesn’t mean you have to completely detach from your tech devices. A digital detox is more about setting the limits when it comes to device and internet use.

1. Set Boundaries

Limit your device use during some parts of the day and refrain from using them before you go to bed. Turn off push notifications on your smartphone and resist the urge to check your screen every few minutes.  You can use apps like Forest and Freedom to aid you in this.

2. Mindfully Connect with Nature

Spend time outside whenever you get a chance. Sit on the ground, take your shoes off, and feel connected to nature around you. Practice mindfulness meditation for a few minutes to focus on the present and relax. Taking regular breaks to connect with nature and practice mindfulness can help you quiet down, alleviate stress, anxiety, and depression, and think positive thoughts.

3. Read a book

Reading is a great way to pass the time and stay entertained when staying away from your devices.  Dive into a new book and feel the stresses of the world float away.

4. Connect with People in Real Life

Spend time with people you love, even if you need to follow the social distancing rules. Have a meaningful conversation with your friend face-to-face, grab dinner with your sister, or cook a new recipe for your partner. No digital relationship can replace real-life interactions with people we love.

Although sometimes necessary, spending too much time glued to your screen can have a negative impact. Taking a break from your devices from time to time can help you feel rejuvenated, less stressed, and happier.

Further reading

Check out our blog on how social media affects your mental health.

A2B Assessments

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4 Awesome TV Shows Featuring Disabilities: Netflix Edition

Lockdown can be boring. We’ve decided to help you get through the boredom by selecting 4 awesome TV shows featuring disabilities. These shows feature characters who have disabilities acting in a manner that is both realistic and compelling.

We have selected these based on several criteria:

1. The nuance of the character portrayals.
2. The acting talent on show.
3. The sheer entertainment value of the shows in question.

Without further ado, here are our 4 awesome TV shows featuring disabilities.

All currently available to stream in their entirety on Netflix (UK). We hope you have as much pleasure watching them as we did.

Breaking Bad

Breaking Bad tells the story of Walter White, a struggling chemistry teacher, who discovers that he has cancer and a limited time to live.

Driven to take care of his disabled son, his wife and his new daughter, he ventures into the illicit production of crystal meth. While the show shines in the portrayal of a man’s descent into the seedy underbelly of the drug trade, it also excels in how it depicts Walter White’s son in one of the strongest examples of a disabled actor being cast in a role that doesn’t focus on his disability in anyway.

IMDB Rating 9.5/10

Stranger Things

Set in the 1980s, Stranger Things follows a groups of friends as they uncover sinister government conspiracies and meet a young girl with supernatural powers.

While Stranger Things got a great deal of critical acclaim for its storyline and acting, it also impressed viewers with the way the writers of the show incorporated Gaten Matarazzo’s disability—Cleidocranial dysplasia, into the show after his audition. This was significant because it lends credence to the fact that specifying that characters be non-disabled in casting requirements is slowly becoming a thing of the past.

IMDB Rating 8.8/10

Atypical

Atypical is not your everyday romantic comedy. It follows Sam, a teenager on the autistic spectrum, as he navigates the thrilling and confusing world of dating and relationships.

As if this wasn’t complicated enough, Sam also has to assert his independence from his doting mother, father and sister, and navigate what normal truly means in a world where nothing seems to be typical.

IMDB Rating 8.3/10

Maniac

This last entry on the list is by no means the least. Maniac is a funny, yet realistic portrayal of what it feels like to love someone with mental illnesses.

It follows Owen and Annie as they take part in a pharmacological trial that they hope will help them deal with their Paranoid Schizophrenia and Borderline Personality Disorder, respectively.

Maniac wins the creation points for its sensitive portrayal of the issues they struggle with, and the challenges they face as they try to live life free of their demons.

IMDB Rating 7.8/10

If you prefer movies to TV series then check out our recent blog post on 10 disability aware movies to binge in lockdown.

A2B Assessments

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Video Blog #11 – How Alcohol Affects Your Mental Health

In this video blog we will be taking a brief look at how alcohol affects your mental health.

To learn more about the negative affects of alcohol you can read our full blog post here 

If you feel you drink too much and need support then please visit the NHS website.

A2B Assessments

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10 Disability Aware Movies To Binge In Lockdown

As it doesn’t look like we will be able to visit a cinema anytime soon due to the Coronavirus outbreak, we thought we would compile a list of 10 of our favourite movies to portray disabilities on the big screen. Get the popcorn and tissues ready…

The Theory of Everything

The Theory of Everything is a compelling movie. It dramatises the life of the late popular theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking as set out in the Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen, written by his ex-wife Jane Hawking.

The movie gives us a close look into the personal life of the genius, chronicling his relationship with his then wife, his struggles with ALS and their divorce. This critically acclaimed tale thrilled audiences all over the world with its touching portrayal of the blooming of bittersweet love and its eventual demise.

Inside I’m Dancing (Rory O’Shea Was Here)

You may know this movie by the alternate title, Rory O’Shea Was Here. It follows two young men with disabilities as they revolt against the way they were being treated in a home for the disabled and chronicles their quest for independence.

The movie is driven by a stellar performance by a young James McAvoy, who gives it the gravity and nuance that it required. 

My Left Foot

One of the most critically acclaimed movies of all time, My Left Foot stars Daniel Day-Lewis in a thrilling performance that earned him an Oscar.

It tells the tale of an Irish cerebral palsy victim Christy Brown, who overcame all the challenges thrown in his path by his illness. Christy rises to become a well-known painter, author and fundraiser. 

One of the groundbreaking features of My Left Foot was its portrayal of a disabled character as an individual who did not have to fit into the likeable mold, previously forced upon disabled people in Hollywood. 

Love & Other Drugs

This movie stars Anne Hathaway and Jake Gyllenhaal in a modern love story which features a pharmaceutical rep that falls in love with a woman who has Parkinson’s. 

As flawed as the movie may be in its execution of its various plot points, it excels in the overall story it tries to tell; the tale of two hearts who find love despite all odds. 

Forrest Gump

You’ve probably seen Forrest Gump before, and you need to see it again. This movie follows Forrest,  as played by Tom Hanks, through his struggles, triumphs and defeats.

Although it is never actually states specifically what Forrest’s disability is, supporting character Lieutenant Dan lost both of his legs in Vietnam and Jenny, Forrest’s love interest contracts HIV/AIDS.

Rain Man

Another stellar movie driven by powerful characters and a superb plot, Rain Man follows fast-talking car salesman, Charlie Babbitt (Tom Cruise) as he tracks down his father’s estate to the institution caring for his older brother Raymond (Dustin Hoffman).

In an Oscar winning performance, Hoffman’s portrayal of an individual with autism awed Hollywood when the movie was released and has contributed to Rain Man’s seeming ubiquitous nature in pop culture references to this day.

The Scent of a Woman

This movie features a prep school student, wealth and a blind Colonel with his own agenda.  Featuring a great performance from Al Pacino, a visually impaired man who is sick of living and wants to have one last adventure before he commits suicide.

The Upside

A wealthy paraplegic in need of a caregiver hires a destitute Parolee to help tend to his day to day needs.

The ensuing tale features reconciliation, love, regret, and the overwhelming passion to live every second of life like it was the very last.

What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?

The titular character, Gilbert Grape struggles between his love for his paramour Becky, and his responsibilities towards his mentally-challenged brother Arnie and Bonnie, his morbidly obese mother.

Ray

Ray follows the life of Ray Charles as he loses first his brother, then his sense of sight. Instilled with words of encouragement from his mother, he is inspired to overcome adversity and make his mark on the world as a Pianist.

We hope you enjoyed our list of 10 disability aware movies to binge in lockdown

A2B Assessments

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Mental Health Awareness Week

Mental Health Awareness Week has started and it is running from the 18-24th of May…

This year’s focus is kindness in reaction to the COVID-19 outbreak, which is is having a negative impact on people’s mental wellbeing.

The Mental Health Foundation has led a study into kindness and the results show that about 66% of people feel that being on the receiving end of acts of kindness positively affects their emotional well-being.

The study also found that 66% of people who commit random acts of kindness feel a positive impact on their own mental health. While 48% of the individuals studied said being kind to themselves positively affected their mental wellbeing.

You might be surprised to hear that being kind to others actually has numerous benefits to your own health:

It’s good for the health of your heart

Being kind produces the hormone Oxytocin which in turn causes the release of the chemical nitric oxide. This lowers blood pressure and is the same thing that helps keep your heart healthy after exercise.

Kindness helps slow ageing

Oxidative stress is one of the key factors that plays a role in ageing and when you introduce more Oxytocin throughout your body the levels of Oxidative stress get significantly reduced.

Improves your happiness

Being kind also produces the chemical serotonin, this is responsible for an overall improvement in your mood, which can also reduces stress, anxiety and feelings of low mood.

Here are 10 acts of kindness you could do today in lockdown

1. Donate some unwanted clothes to a charity via a clothing bank or freepost. The British Heart Foundation offers freepost for up to 10kg of items.
2. Send a family member a message saying how much you miss them and are thinking of them.
3. If you have housemates make them a hot drink or even better make them lunch.
4. If you don’t have housemates or you just want to feed someone further afield you could arrange for a takeaway delivery to someone you care about.
5. Send someone a joke to improve their mood.
6. Donate to a charity or see if any of your contacts are raising money for any causes and donate to them.
7. Send a message of encouragement or inspiration to a friend you know is having a hard time.
8. Skill share with a friend over video call, teach them something and have them teach you something in return!
9. If you have any vulnerable neighbours offer to go to the shop for them or just leave them some surprise goodies outside their door.
10. Share a meal with a friend over video call, or if you are feeling daring you could do something like a hot sauce challenge, where you both buy a selection of hot sauces and try them out over video call on your food of choice.

To learn more about Mental Health Awareness Week watch the video below:

To learn more about Mental Health Awareness week visit the Mental Health Foundation.

To learn more about the disabled students allowance.

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How Students Can Use Evernote

Evernote is widely regarded as one of the best productivity tools in the entire world. Not only is it efficient and dependable, it’s also one of the top note-taking tools to offer cloud support, file organisation and many other great features. If you like taking notes, writing ideas down or storing important files locally/in the cloud, then Evernote might be right app for you.

Important Evernote features

Cloud Support

One of Evernote’s advantages is both a desktop and mobile app that stores it’s date in the cloud. This means whenever you write a note on mobile, it transfers to desktop and the other way around.

Add images or documents

You can also create a variety of note types and even use different fonts for convenience. To make things better, you are also allowed to attach documents and clip full pages if you want.

Excellent Organisation

Another key feature for Evernote is the fact that you can search and find your notes with ease. Just searching a keyword will bring up all of your notes where it is included. If you want to better organise your notes, you can create your own tags and notebooks.

Import online research easily

A great feature for students comes in the form of a web clipper. Using it you can save pages, articles and web pages to your account. This way you get to do research on a topic and then have it all in a single place. It definitely beats bookmarks and coupled with the above mentioned search function you can pull up all of your research on a topic in seconds.

Handwriting Support

Evernote even have support for handwriting, so if you prefer to write notes by hand, Evernote’s machine learning system can recognise what you wrote. It can identify 11 handwritten and 28 typewritten languages. Results can differ based on how complex your handwriting is, but this can definitely make a huge difference.

Scan documents

With Evernote you can also scan documents and add everything in your account. Having all those documents ready to go in a single place is very convenient, and it can go well beyond your school life. Students will like this feature because they can take a picture of every important page in a book and have the content available as they see fit.

Integration with other popular apps

It’s also important to note that Evernote also offers lots of integrations with popular tools. For example, it offers Gmail integration, Outlook, SalesForce, Google Drive, Slack and Microsoft Teams integrations.

How Students Can Use Evernote

• You can have notebooks for every class, you can add documents and integrate audio recordings or manage drafts.
• As we mentioned above, you can also search and also scan handwritten notes.
• It works great if you want to record talks and lectures.
• Annotation is key for a tool like this, and Evernote does not disappoint. You can add notes to PDFs, you can even indicate stuff with arrows and so on. Modifying the content of PDF files does not seem like a lot, but it makes a huge difference and it shows the true value of such a tool.
• Students can also manage assignments with reminders and to-do lists. Managing tasks is hard most of the time, but Evernote does a very good job at helping you track all those personal and school tasks in a single place.

Conclusion

If you want to take advantage of all these features, all you need is to download Evernote for free from https://evernote.com/. This is by far one of the top tools you can use to manage your documents and content. Give it a try

Learn more about the DSA assessment process.

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