UCAS Reports Massive Surge In Nursing Students

A record number of students have been accepted on nursing and midwifery courses this year according to the latest statistics released by UCAS.

It is believed that increased emphasis on the health and social sector over the last 9 months, due to Covid-19, has led to a much greater number of students looking for a career in healthcare.

The statistics from UCAS show that there were 6,110 (or 26%) more accepted applications for students studying on nursing and midwifery courses than last year. A grand total of 29,740 students will be studying nursing and midwifery in 2021.

The data also shows a 43% increase in mature students, aged 35 and over who have been accepted on nursing and midwifery courses.

Minister for Care Helen Whately said:

It’s fantastic to see so many people choosing to pursue a career in nursing and midwifery, with over a quarter more students starting on courses. This year has shown just how much we depend on nurses. I have no doubt that their incredible work has inspired the next generation to pursue careers in the NHS and social care.

This year we’ve also introduced a new training grant for nursing students of at least £5,000 a year, helping to remove the barriers for anyone considering this brilliant career.

With over 14,800 more nurses working in our NHS compared to last year, we are on our way to delivering 50,000 more by the end of this Parliament to help us build back better.

If you are interested in a career in health care wrote an article covering the above mentioned nursing grant back in January.

Thanks for reading,

A2B Assessments

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Mental Health Disorders In Higher Education

Moving away from living at home and being independent of your parents for the first time can be challenging. The age span of 16-24 years old is essentially the transition from adolescence to adulthood and this is a high risk period for mental health disorders, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

64% of the University student population is between 16 and 24 years old, and this increases to 83% if you count undergraduates only.  Because of this, students span an age range where a wide spectrum of mental illness is seen.

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, a study by NHS Digital and the University of Exeter found that 13% of young men and 27% of young women between 17 and 22 years had a mental health disorder. This report shows an increase in the rate of mental health problems, especially among young women.

What Is Meant By Mental Illness?

 Mental illness can be thought of as how we think, feel and behave. There are many contributing factors that can impact one’s mental health, such as;

• Genetics – brain chemistry and biological factors.
• Life experiences, post-traumatic stress or abuse.
• Family history of mental health problems.

With the correct support and coping methods, people who suffer from mental illness can be mentally well. And likewise, people without mental illness can experience very poor mental wellbeing in challenging circumstances where they don’t have the correct support.

Common Mental Health Disorders Among Students.

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Bi-polar disorder
• Eating disorder
• Self-harm
• Borderline personality disorder
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• ADHD/Attention Deficit Disorder
• High levels of substance misuse

The impact on studies

A recent report from Randstad gives us some interesting statistics on student mental health in 2020.

• 37% of students report deteriorating mental health.
• In 2019 55% of students surveyed said they had considered leaving their course and dropping out of university. The top 3 reasons for this were mental health issues, not being able to cope with the stress and not feeling like the got the support they needed.

However mental health doesn’t just result in students dropping out, it can also negatively affect:

• Performance
• Attendance
• Relationships
• Wellbeing

What is being done to help?

In the above example of the 55% of students who had considered leaving their course, 71% of them said that the Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) had given them the support and confidence needed to stick at it. 96% of students who received DSA support said they would recommend it to others.

For students with mental health problems the weekly meeting with the same Specialist mentor for the duration of their course can be invaluable. In a recent training webinar by Optimum Student Support a mentor told a story of how one of her students had gifted her the only ticket to their graduation ceremony.  A lovely gesture and it helps to illustrate how the student felt about their mentoring support.

There is still some way to go though in increasing awareness around the Disabled Students Allowance and mental health as a whole.  In 2019 the BBC reported that due to confusion over what was meant as a disability and poor awareness meant that 60% of students who would be eligible for the DSA had never heard of it.  A lot of people aren’t aware that disability refers to anything that has a negative impact on how someone carries out day to day tasks, which includes mental illness.

We try our best to raise awareness through our blog and social media pages. If you are student reading this and you do feel like you struggle with mental health you may be entitled to the DSA. Click here to read more about DSA funding and the DSA assessment process.

This article was created from notes taken at an online webinar by Optimum Student Support and this Randstad Report.

 

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Video Games Can Improve Mental Health

A new Oxford University Study investigating the correlation between video games and mental wellness shows that video games can improve mental health.

If you observe the way the media portrays video games, you mainly see negative discussions around addiction, escapism, violence or how much money the developers are making. From TV to the news, video games are consistently getting the negative tag and stigmatised amongst other forms of entertainment.  It is very rare you see discussion of the positive effects of video games and we often fail to consider benefits to the life and wellness of gamers.

The Oxford study observed respondents who play EA’s shooter Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville and Nintendo’s recent hit Animal Crossing. Everyone who participated reported greater well-being and positive mental health owing to their gaming activities.

Previous studies have been done like this but they didn’t incorporate actual play-time data. Whereas thanks to the online nature of these games they were easily able to monitor the time the participants spent playing. The team at Oxford then connected their psychological questionnaires to the gaming time, making it possible to gauge a person’s mental well-being in connection to their game time.

The researchers further solidified their findings by observing several factors connected to gamer experiences, including enjoyment, feelings of autonomy, improved competence and satisfaction.

Although this research is a step in the right direction for many gamers, the findings are not all-encompassing. This research was only conducted based on the two games mentioned above, and any other game could have greater or less impact. Another factor is a person’s attitude or disposition towards gaming which can positively or negatively affect their mental health or experiences.

In light of these new findings, Oxford University hope that the study will spring up more discussions into the benefits of video games and also help to shed more light on video game addiction.

It is estimated that almost 3 billion gamers exist in the world, with a large number of them enjoying the life-improving and overall positive effects of their hobbies.

Will this research influence people to stop tagging video games as sinister, stealthily harmful, and as guilty pleasures which we should overcome and conquer?

Perhaps, now is the time to change the perspective about video games and their effect on mental and general well-being.

Check out the Oxford Press Release and read the full study here

check out more of our posts on student mental health or learn more about the dsa assessment process.

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BBC Arts Launch Creative Commissions for Disabled Artists

As the coronavirus pandemic continues with restrictions in place across the UK. BBC Arts are doing what they can to support the arts and artists. Their recently launched Culture in Quarantine Initiative aims to keep art thriving in the homes and hearts of the public despite the pandemic.

Back in April, BBC arts invited artists to respond to the challenges of the COVID-19 lockdown with their creative work. The commissioning strand was widely successful, with the production of 25 commissions that reached millions of audiences on BBC and other social media platforms. One of the pieces that garnered the most attention was the Swan Lake bath performance, preformed by the cast of swan lake (included at the bottom of this blog post).

It is on the heels of this success that BBC is creating the new commission strand, targeted solely at disabled artists to amplify their voices, messages and talent.

Marking the 25th year since the Disability Discrimination Act got passed into law, BBC Arts is partnering with the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Arts Council of England, Creative Scotland, and Arts Council of Wales. The strand will see artists across Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and England produce works of art that BBC will host on its platforms.

Invitations will go out to disabled, neurodivergent, and D/deaf professional artists to apply for funds to produce new audio/visual works. In total, the fund will commission ten new pieces of work.

Artists featured on this new strand can produce work telling of the experience of living through the coronavirus pandemic as a disabled creative. However, it is not compulsory to create work in that area.

Applications for the new strand opened on Monday, November 9th, 2020, and closes midday on Tuesday, January 12th, 2021.

A panel consisting of representatives from BBC Arts, Arts Council of Wales, Arts Council of England, Creative Scotland, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, and the U.K Disability Arts Alliance will select the commissions to be produced.

The production of all selected works will likely take place between March and June 2021 and air on all BBC platforms later in the same year.

To apply or learn more visit https://www.thespace.org/commissioning

If you are finding the second lockdown difficult we have a range of content on our blog that may be able to help.

This video of Swan Lake performed in bath tubs was a result of the previous BBC Arts commission…

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Video Blog #12 – How To Minimise Anxiety During Lockdown

In this video blog we have 7 tips on how to minimise anxiety during lockdown.

The information in this video is taken from a previous blog post we did on how to minimise anxiety during the Coronavirus pandemic. You can read that article here. 

Thanks,

A2B Assessments

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Understanding The Mental Health Of Young Adults

Researchers at the University of Exeter have started a new study to learn about the mood, emotions and mental health of young adults.

People aged between 16 and 22 years are to taking part by logging their feelings in a smartphone app. The app is designed to identify the behaviours of users, improve their wellbeing, prevent anxiety, and depression.

‘MyMoodCoachApp’ will provide cognitive behavioural therapy and self-help techniques to help users understand and handle their emotions. Aiding participants in developing resilience, building emotional and mental strength and improving their wellness.

The group of researchers will then use the data to gain a better understanding the mental health of young adults.

Why is this Study Important?

A growing body of work and research shows that depression and anxiety are a common problem among young people and the rates are fast increasing.

A recent survey that compared mental health from 2018 to 2019 found an increase in the clinical documentation of mental distress. From the results, the percentage of young adults suffering from clinical distresses has increased from 25% to 37%.

Data also shows that 1.25 million people between the ages of 17 and 19 (25% of the population) have significant anxiety and depression levels. Sadly, less than 1/3 of these people get any professional help.

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, a study by NHS Digital and the University of Exeter found that 13% of young men and 27% of young women between 17 and 22 years had a mental health disorder. This report shows an increase in the rate of mental health problems, especially among young women.

Depression is the most common of all mental health problems, with impacts that cut across every sector of a person’s life.

The only way to tackle this global challenge is to stage early interventions to promote positive mental health and well-being among young people. Engaging people with this app is a great step because it will reach them via a favourite medium of theirs.

How does the App Work?

The MyMoodCoach app will require users to fill in details about their emotions and moods every day, creating an overview of their emotional patterns. In some cases, the app will offer 2/3 of users the strategies to help them handle their emotional well-being.

For instance, if a person’s data report shows that they worry a lot, the app can provide such a person some strategies and self-help tips to manage their emotions and reduce worry.

The researchers will observe these processes to discover what elements in the app works best to help young people.

Conclusion

Research shows that helping young people to manage their emotions better will lead to a reduction in cases of anxiety and depression.

If we can help young people worry less, express their emotions, or develop more helpful mind-sets, we can reduce the rates of depression and anxiety amongst high-risk groups as much as 50% over the next year.

If this sounds like something you would find useful you can learn more and get the free app here… https://www.mymoodcoach.com/

See more of our articles around mental health or learn more about the disabled students allowance.

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6 Google Chrome Extensions That Improve Accessibility

Google Chrome accounts for 69% of all web browser market share, making it the most popular web browser globally. One of the main reasons Chrome is so successful is it’s ability to add third party extensions that customise how you interact with the internet.

In this blog post, we will look at 6 Google Chrome extensions that improve accessibility.

AT Bar

This is a free, open-source, cross-browser toolbar that gives people the power to change how they see and interact with websites. The idea is to have a single toolbar that gives you all the functionality that is typically achievable with various products and settings.  With it, it changes how websites look and feels, reads text out loud and spell checks.

Get the Chrome extension.

BeeLine Reader

 BeeLine has a colour gradient guides eyes from at the end of a line to the start of another. Reading will be easier and faster because you can quickly move between the lines. Users have noted a 30 percent increase in reading time with this extension. Grade school students to graduate-level students have used BeeLine to help them with their reading speed.

We did a full write up on BeeLine Reader which you can read here.

Get this extension.

Google Dictionary

At some point it is likely you will come across a word that you don’t know the meaning of. With the Google Dictionary you can can do the following:

• Double-click a word to see its definition, which will appear in a small bubble.
• See the entire definition of any word or phrase with the toolbar dictionary.
• Keep a list of words you looked up to review at a later time.

Get this extension.

Grammarly

Grammarly can be a writer’s best friend, eliminating writing mistakes – spelling, grammar and tone – and provide you with the words that best describe what you’re trying to convey. This extension offers real-time feedback in Google Docs, Gmail, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc. Anywhere you do your writing, Grammarly offers its assistance.

Despite the name, Grammarly focuses on more than just grammar. It makes writing improvement recommendations, so the message is clear to the reader.  When you register your account, Grammarly will send you a weekly writing report about your progress and note areas that need improvement.

Check out our full write-up here…

Get this extension.

Read&Write For Google Chrome

Read&Write for Google Chrome offers customised support to access web pages, documents and other Google Drive file types a little easier.  This app helps people to engage with digital content based on their learning styles and abilities. The primary functions of Read&Write are speech to text and text to speech.

Get this extension.

Zoom For Google Chrome

Make reading a little more comfortable with the Zoom for Google Chrome extension. Use the zoom button and mouse scroll wheel to zoom in or out on any web content.

Zoom is easy to use and is ideal for people with various eye conditions or who just have a hard time reading content on a screen. As the best magnifying browser extension, Zoom for Google Chrome offers a zoom slider so people can customise and find a percentage scale that makes it easier to read a site.

Get this extension.

Thank you for reading and hopefully you enjoyed this blog post on 6 Google Chrome Extensions That Improve Accessibility.

Learn more about A2B and the DSA assessment process

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6 Google Chrome Extensions That Can Boost Your Productivity

Google Chrome is the world’s most popular web browser, accounting for 69% of the total web browser market share. To put this into perspective their nearest competitor is Firefox with a market share of 7.6%.

This wide percentage margin isn’t that big of a surprise considering all the benefits Chrome has – device syncing, intuitive interface and outstanding performance. However, it’s the apps and extensions that make Google Chrome so much better than other available web browsers.

How so?

They give users the power to customise how they access the Internet and use it.

In this blog post, we will look at 6 Google Chrome extensions that can boost your productivity.

DF Tube (Distraction Free YouTube)

Many people use YouTube to educate themselves, for motivation and for background listening when they are trying to get work done. Sometimes it might be used to relax and listen to music or to kill time.

Bear in mind that the goal of YouTube is to get as many clicks and views as they can, as the more videos you watch the more money they make from ads.

After nearly every video is played, another video is already queued up. When viewing a video, you will see on the page dozens of recommended videos that the YouTube a.i. has decided have the highest chance of getting you to click and are most likely to steal more of time and attention. This is great for people killing time but bad for those trying to work and be productive.

The DF Tube extension provides the solution for this. You can hide the recommended videos, hide the custom feed and stop the automatic playing of videos when yours has finished.

Making YouTube a better companion for productivity.

Get the Chrome extension.

Dualless

The premise of this extension is to give you a dual-monitor experience. A recent study by Jon Peddie Research found a 42% increase in productivity when using multiple displays.

In just two clicks, this Chrome extension will split the browser window into two. The ratio is adjustable based on your needs. One browser window may only appear 30 percent on the screen with the other screen taking up 70 percent.

Get this extension.

Forest: Stay Focused, Be Present

Forest gamifies staying focused and avoiding the internet. When using the extension, you plant a seed. Over the next 30 minutes, it grows into a tree. If you leave the Forest window and visit another website your tree will wither and die. When you can visually see your tree’s growth, it can give you a sense of achievement for staying focused on your task.

This app is great if you need to spend 30 minutes working on an article, essay or anything else that doesn’t involve using the internet.

Get this extension.

There is also a mobile app to stop you wasting time on your smartphone when you should be being productive. Read our full write up here.

Freedom (Website Blocker)

If you constantly find yourself visiting distracting websites when you should be using the internet productively then Freedom could be the solution to your woes. With Freedom you create blacklists which are websites you do not want to visit, then you set a schedule for those blacklists. If you visit any of the websites in your blacklist whilst the schedule is running, Freedom blocks you from accessing them.

Freedom also allows you to sync your sessions across all devices – desktop, Android app and iOS. This blocks access to any chosen website you may browse.

Check out our full write-up here…

StayFocusd

Similar to Freedom, but where Freedom blocks websites for a scheduled time frame e.g. 9am-5pm, StayFocusd allows you to determine how much time you want to spend on a website per day. For example, you could set it to only spend 30 minutes per day on Facebook and twitter. Then once the time has expired, you can’t visit them for the remainder of the day.

Get this extension.

News Feed Eradicator for Facebook

Are you spending a lot of time checking out your Facebook newsfeed? Do you find time slipping away from you on the social media site? If you can’t imagine getting rid of your Facebook profile but need to spend time on more important things, check out the extension News Feed Eradicator for Facebook.

It is a simple plugin that just removes your news feed from your Facebook home screen.

Get this extension.

Thank you for reading and hopefully you enjoyed this blog post on 6 Google Chrome Extensions That Can Boost Your Productivity.

Learn more about us and the DSA process

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The Pros And Cons Of Online Learning

The global pandemic is having an impact in many areas of society, especially education. Lectures have been moved to online learning environments such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams. And although learning things digitally is something many of us are used to, the set-up of online class rooms is still a big change for everyone involved.

Teachers and students who have become accustomed to spending time in conventional in-person environments, will need to adapt to the online learning model. As well as adopt new (and unfamiliar) teaching and learning strategies.

In this blog post we will explore some of the pros and cons of online learning.

The Pros Of Online Learning

Improved accessibility to education

E-learning can improve accessibility. Those who would struggle to attend a class in-person, due to a disability for example, have no issues with virtually attending one from the comfort of their home. Universities are also able to serve larger groups of students as they are not limited by physical space.

Improved accessibility of course materials

In a physical classroom setting, students normally need to take excessive notes and only have one chance to listen and process the information. Online lessons are generally recorded and the students can look back and study the material multiple times.

Improving the accessibility of course material can help students who struggle in certain areas. Providing a mix of video content, audio files, transcriptions, and notes can aid students with different learning styles.

Digital learning is affordable

In contrast to in-person learning, e-learning is normally more affordable. E-learning eliminates a couple of costs associated with standard education. Firstly, the travel costs for the student and secondly the real estate costs for the University or College.

Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 many students have been forced into online learning without receiving any reduction in fees. This could change in the future though.

Improved attendance

Students miss fewer classes since they can easily access their lessons from anywhere.

Encourages participation from students who may be shy in person.

Many students that tend to be withdrawn in class environments can feel more confident opening up in a digital setting. They can be much more forthcoming, as far as participation and questions are concerned. This can be attributed to being comfortable in familiar surroundings.

The Cons Of Online Learning

Different learning styles

People have different learning styles. Some are better learning kinaesthetically, while others are auditory learners. Another group might be visual learners. E-learning can be quite one dimensional and as such may not accommodate everyone’s preferred learning style.

Universities should try to minimise this impact by providing video content, audio files, transcriptions, and notes (as mentioned above in benefits.)

Easy to Get Distracted

Many students are unable to retain their concentration for long periods of time during a virtual lecture. It is easy for boredom to set in since no in-person interaction exists. It adds extra pressure for the lecturers to try and keep online sessions interactive and engaging enough for students to stay interested.

No Social Interaction

People tend to learn things by being around others. Sadly, online learning eliminates in-person interactions for both teachers and students. Discussing ideas and talking to one another is important for students, and is also an integral aspect of learning. You can sometimes learn more from discussing a topic with your class mates than listening to a lecture.

Some platforms like Zoom have features to try and combat this. On Zoom, the host can create virtual break rooms within the call. This puts participants into smaller groups where they can discuss things amongst themselves.

Screen Time Overload

There are unhealthy consequences of looking at a computer or mobile device screen for hours on end, such as ergonomic issues and eye strain.

Conclusion

All approaches to learning come with their share of advantages and obstacles. Many institutions are still finding their feet with e-Learning but expect it to improve rapidly over the coming months. Since everybody is at the mercy of Covid-19, some type of virtual learning is necessary to keep education going for students.

If you are struggling to stay focused during online classes check out our studying at home tips.

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Otter.Ai – Free Transcription App

Otter.ai is a transcription app powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Otter.ai gives you the ability to transcribe audio, whether in person or digitally online.

We’ve been quite impressed with the app and although it isn’t currently DSA funded, it is available completely free for up to 600 minutes per month.

If you require more minutes you can upgrade to 6000 minutes for $8.33 per month, but students can benefit from 50% off this price.  So you are looking at roughly £4.00 per month (depending on exchange rate) for 6000 minutes of transcription. That could equate to 100 hour long lectures each month…A great deal in our opinion.

Possible ways to use Otter…

Taking Notes

This is one of the most dreaded, yet indispensable parts of the University experience and Otter can help take some of the stress away. If you struggle to concentrate on the discussion and make notes at the same time, then Otter can be trusted to faithfully transcribe full conversations. Using Otter you can also add pictures and images that could help make recall and study easier.

Transcribing Research Interviews

Otter gives you the freedom to worry about the truly important stuff. This means that it handles the grunt work of interview transcriptions and gives you the time to focus on analysis and result interpretations in your field of study.

Students with Hearing Impairments

Otter can also aid students who have a hearing impairment. This service faithfully captures and transcribes all verbal information, giving students with impaired hearing the ability to easily make notes. The app could also be used in non-academic settings to aid in communication.

Benefiting from Podcasts

Times have changed, and these days it is equally likely to come across academic nuggets in podcasts as it is to hear them spoken in the lecture hall. Otter can be used to transcribe information from digital media such as podcasts, audiobooks or YouTube video.

Conclusion

Otter is a great, cost effective tool that has the potential to really aid you in your studies and make your life easier.

Visit https://otter.ai/ to learn more.

For some other awesome free tools that can aid you in your studies, check out our blog posts on Forest, Freedom and Grammarly.

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What Happens In Study Skills Sessions

In this blog post we cover what you can expect and what happens during one-to-one study skills sessions. We would like to give a special thank you to Diversity And Ability (D&A), who helped facilitate this content.

Study Skills

Study Skills support is tailored, one-to-one tuition that will help you understand your learning style, to embrace your strengths and work on strategies to overcome challenges. In short, to help you study more effectively and efficiently.

‘The strategies I learnt were all extremely helpful and have allowed me to read articles twice as fast. Usually, I would struggle with reading my own work, whereas I was shown a new method of how to speed this up and make it easier for myself.’ – Xavier, Third Year, Goldsmiths, University of London

What Areas Do Study Skills Cover?

Your tutor will work with you throughout your time as a student on a variety of topics relevant to you and your learning style. Below are some common study areas your tutor can help you with.

• Organisation and timekeeping    
• Essay composition and planning
• Reading and proofreading
• Note-taking
• Research and referencing
• Revision
• Mental health and procrastination

It is best to meet with your tutor once a week for an hour throughout the term, however, there is always flexibility depending on your course demands and workload. The first session will focus on establishing your learning goals with following sessions then building on this, with an emphasis on enhancing transferable study skills that will enable you to reach your full potential.

‘I have noticed vast changes from start to finish. I have developed a higher standard of writing skills that has resulted in achieving higher grades in my assignments. It was really beneficial to find a tutor who I felt supported and adjusted to my learning needs.’ – Mohammed, Second Year, London South Bank University

How Has Covid-19 Impacted The Delivery Of Study Skills?

Although face-to-face study skills sessions have been put on hold for the time being, tutors are highly experienced to teach students with a range of learning styles on a variety of online platforms. Your tutor will discuss with you the best online platform for you to make sure your sessions can take place consistently and effectively.

‘During the COVID-19 lockdown I have been able to carry on my Study Skills sessions without the pandemic affecting my grades as my tutor has taught me to use skype, something I had never used before. I’m so grateful to have this new skill!’ – Abbie, First Year, University of Essex

Learn about other kinds of non medical helper support

Book a DSA Assessment

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What Happens During Specialist Mentoring

In this blog post we cover what you can expect and what happens during specialist mentoring sessions. We would like to give a special thank you to Diversity And Ability (D&A), who helped facilitate this content.

What Is Specialist Mentoring?

Mentoring, in a nutshell, offers confidential one-to-one support to help you feel happier and more confident while you study. University life can bring with it a unique set of stressors and challenges. Mentoring will allow you to manage these, enabling you to become more independent, feel more confident with your work and have a better university experience.

“Prior to starting the sessions, I had no idea what to expect and have since been surprised just how truly helpful they are. The flexibility that fed into every part of the sessions really allowed me to build my confidence in considering and prioritising my wellbeing and voice. My mentor was really great at holding the space for me and I always felt safe, heard and valued. Having the time and space to talk through and reflect on things in a way I wouldn’t have been able to otherwise has been invaluable. I’m really grateful for all that I’ve learnt. “

Sophie, Second Year, Goldsmith, University of London

The Logistics Of Specialist Mentoring

Mentoring sessions typically last an hour and take place regularly throughout the academic year in a private, comfortable, and safe space.  All mentors are experienced practitioners, holding relevant qualifications in the field of mental health and membership of an appropriate professional body.

“My mentor was amazing! Very understanding, very helpful, he gave emotional support and was also very effective with planning and organising tasks, goal setting. It made everything easier and he was such a big help.”

 Sam, First Year, London South Bank University

How COVID-19 Has Affected Specialist Mentoring

Although face-to-face mentoring support has been put on hold for the time being, mentors are now fully equipped to provide sessions remotely through a variety of online platforms. As with face-to-face, online sessions will continue to support students in the following areas:

• Assistance with any pastoral matters which are causing anxiety or stress
• Support with motivation and morale
• Building confidence and self-esteem
• Emotional support with a focus on enabling the development of emotional awareness and wellbeing strategies

Furthermore, many practitioners are using inbuilt accessibility features, such as live captioning, to make online mentoring as inclusive and as effective as it’s ever been.

‘It was getting really tough to manage everything at once and having this support has helped in a lot of ways. I really like how the support is still made accessible online, and it doesn’t feel less beneficial than a face-to-face session. In the current situation, I’ve needed my sessions more than ever’

Shivani, First Year, King’s College London

 

Learn about other kinds of non medical helper support

Book a DSA Assessment

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7 Tips For Making Friends In Freshers (updated for COVID-19)

We first posted this article on 7 tips for making friends in freshers back in June 2019, however with the current pandemic we thought it would be good to revisit this with some updated tips for this years freshers.

1) First of all remember that everyone is in the same boat. Everyone is new and will be feeling excited but also apprehensive and a little shy/ nervous. Some people just hide it better than others. Most people are living away from home for the first time and like you are trying to find their feet.

2) Before you go to Uni, there is probably the opportunity to meet future fellow students and flatmates online. Most universities will have forums for new students where you can discuss courses and accommodation. Be proactive and utilise this, get to know people on social media and possibly meet up beforehand or get together on arrival, you will have made a head start.

3) Be friendly….you don’t have to be an extrovert or the life and soul of the party but try to be welcoming and approachable with your new flat mates/fellow students. You are going to be together for a large chunk of your first year so make a particular effort this week. Even if you’re painfully shy, good advice is to smile, introduce yourself, try to remember names and show interest in the people you meet, ask a few questions but keep it light. Remember they are probably feeling the same.

In light of Covid-19 try to be more respectful of people’s personal space. You might feel comfortable with people in your space but it doesn’t mean that everyone feels this way.

4) Try to get to your new accommodation early and unpack asap, it’s going to be a busy week and it will help make life easier if your room is organised and everything is at hand. You will meet people as they arrive and it also leaves you more time to socialise and join in with the week’s events!

5) Resist the urge to hide away  in your room, if you are unpacking leave the door open so people can chat if they are passing. If new people arrive, introduce yourself, maybe offer to make them a drink.

6) Don’t overdo it but do try to join in with as many things as you can, be open to events on offer and join societies you are interested in. In fact, if someone asks you to join a society with them or try an activity that you hadn’t previously considered, give it a go, you may discover a new passion and at the very least meet new friends.

7) Try to enjoy the experience, you may not meet your lifelong friends in the first week but friendships will be forged. Stress not, you are probably there for at least three years and new friends and different friendship groups  will be established over time. Relax and the rest is easy.

 

Check out our full guide on Transitioning to university during COVID-19.

To find out more about us visit A2B Assessments

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The Mental Health Benefits Of Journaling

In this blog post we will be exploring the mental health benefits of journaling…

Keeping a journal or diary is becoming increasingly popular and can be a useful tool to manage stress, anxiety and depression. There are an increasing number of studies showing the mental health benefits of journaling and although it is not a substitute for conventional treatments, it may be a practical way to help you manage your mental health.

The act of expressing feelings and thoughts in writing can clear the mind and help you to reflect and be aware of negative patterns. Identifying key triggers of stress can help with self awareness and self development. You can then prioritise problems and work through negative thought processes and behaviours to help limit their impact. This can alleviate emotional trauma.

Journals can be a safe and secure place to record innermost thoughts and emotions in complete confidence, and without fear of being judged. Some people like to reflect on their writing to understand their journey and personal development. However, others don’t feel the need to constantly re-read everything. The act of articulating their thoughts in writing and emptying them out of their head is enough to bring mental clarity and promote positive emotional health.

There is no right or wrong way to journal, it is very personal and can be used in the way most suited to your personality and lifestyle. Write about what you want to and as little or as much as you want. It is also important to remember that if you do not find it enjoyable or useful, then there are alternative therapies available to support mental health and there is no pressure to continue.

If the thought of keeping a journal is of interest to you, here are some ideas to get you started. However, remember, it is your personal journey and there are no real rules.

Choose a method that appeals to you

You can choose to write on paper or use a digital journal. If you like to draw, use diagrams or symbols to illustrate your thoughts, a paper journal may enable you to be more creative. Writing by hand is slower but the idea is that this helps you to process your thoughts more thoroughly. A paper journal can also be more convenient, it is portable, you can carry it about, pick it up and write instantly without relying on passwords or charged batteries etc. The main disadvantage is that you could lose your journal and therefore all of your writing.

Alternately, if you prefer to word process, you may be better suited to a digital method. If you think privacy may be a problem, secure password protection can obviously help to safeguard your writing. Entries can be faster when typing, and various online apps have useful organisational features and prompts that can be difficult to reproduce in simple notebook form. You can also journal in Microsoft Word or Pages.

Day One is a free app for Mac and IOS users, (you can upgrade for more features). You can add photographs and text and your entries can be exported into a PDF file. Grid Diary is another useful app which provides templates and prompts to help you reflect. Most of the features are free to use but again you can pay for upgrades.  Evernote is an app we have covered on the A2B blog before and allows you to make notes that easily sync across all of your devices (read our Evernote write up).

The kind of journalling method you choose is purely down to preference and the medium you feel most comfortable using.

Keep your journal close by

Keep your journal close to you if possible, in a bag, desk drawer or bedside table. You are more likely to write about your current feelings and moods if it is easily accessible. It is more probable that you will also develop and maintain a regular habit if you keep it handy. A digital option can usually be accessed by mobile phone which most people constantly have with them.

Write regularly

Although writing regularly is recommended to keep track of your thoughts and feelings, the idea is that journalling is meant to help you feel better and shouldn’t feel like a chore. Try and put a period of time aside on a daily basis if possible, and it will get easier and gradually become second nature.

Use a timer if it helps, for example you could aim to write for at least fifteen minutes per day. You don’t have to stop when the timer goes off if there is more you want to say, but you will have achieved at least fifteen minutes. This can be extended if necessary as you become more experienced and comfortable with the process. One timer app that we love is Forest, which allows you to use the time you have accumulated in the app to plant real trees in the rainforest.

Choose a time that is convenient, maybe when you wake up, on your daily commute, your lunch break or before you go to sleep.

However, if at first you find the process difficult, write when you feel able to and don’t ever feel under pressure.

Quick Start Challenge

If you are feeling pressed for time this 5 minute per day challenge will give you a taste of the mental health benefits of keeping a journal. First thing on a morning write down 3 things you are grateful for and then on an evening write down 3 good things that happened that day. Try this for 7 days and see if you feel more positive.

Write naturally

You are expressing your thoughts and feelings. Don’t worry about punctuation, grammar and spelling. It is important to just write honestly and let it flow using language you feel comfortable with. To help you keep track of events you might find it useful to date your entries.

Format

Express yourself in ways that are comfortable for you, you could write lists, bullet points, write a poem, use illustrations or write in story form. Some people write letters as a way of communicating their feelings to someone. The letter is not usually intended to be delivered, but writing down thoughts that they would like to express to someone can be therapeutic.

Write without self-judgement

It is your journal and no-one is judging you so do not judge yourself. Allow yourself to be upset about things and write about negative emotions, fear, hurt, jealousy, without embarrassment or guilt. These feelings are normal and you are doing a positive thing by trying to resolve issues and inner-conflict.

Review

You may find that you write about your feelings and worries when you are at your most emotional. Reviewing these later when you may be feeling more relaxed and calm can help you to reflect and put them into perspective. This can help identify trigger points that you can recognise and try to avoid, making better choices in future.

Bullet journalling

A bullet journal is a flexible method to help you track goals, short and long term and significant events and milestones. It helps you to be more focused and organised by recording everything in one place and helps to de-clutter the mind, which again can promote positive mental health. More information about bullet journalling can be found here.

For more articles like this check out the rest of the A2B blog or book a DSA assessment.

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Android Accessibility Updates

Accessibility has always been at the forefront of the Android platform and Google has recently implemented some Android Accessibility updates and added even more features. These are excellent additions for anyone to make use of, but especially people with disabilities.

Action Blocks

Action Blocks is a feature that has been in development for a while and finally it has been released to the public. This groundbreaking app allows users to perform complex actions with a single tap.  Using a widget on your home screen, you can program the widget to carry out any task on your phone.  Then with a single click the Action Block can repeat the task.

Action Blocks comes with a number of actions already installed and ready to use immediately. You can also create your custom actions for anything you can imagine. For anyone with a cognitive disability, Action Blocks can really make life easier.

Live Transcribe

 Google’s “Live Transcribe” application is also getting a few upgrades. A new update which allows the app to learn new specialised words, improves on what was already a very useful app. Google have also added functionality that allows you to search through all of your transcriptions for any keyword.

Another great feature is that you can set a keyword and then your device will vibrate when this keyword is mentioned. This could be extremely useful if you need to listen out for a specific topic or if you have a hearing impairment.

Voice Access

Android users who have motor or physical impairments can make use of the newly improved “Voice Access” app. The app is more fluid than ever and allows users to carry out basic functions on their phone using just their voice.

Previously apps used to just be numbered on your screen and you would say the corresponding number. With the latest update Voice Access recognises the app’s name, so you can be a lot more direct and just say exactly what you need.

Sound Amplifier

 Sound Amplifier would previously only increase the volume with wired headphones, but with the new update it will also boost the sound over Bluetooth.

Google Maps

Wheelchair users will be happy to hear that the latest Google Maps update allows you to show wheelchair access from the main screen, instead of having to hit a button and select it. A small but time saving feature.

You can download all of these updated app for free from the Google Play Store

Check out our full guide to Android Accessibility.

Thanks for reading

A2B Assessments DSA Assessors

The post Android Accessibility Updates appeared first on A2B Assessments DSA Needs Assessment Centre.

Accessibility In Video Games

In this post will take look at the current state of accessibility in video games and games for disabled people…

20 years ago, no one would have predicted how far along the video game industry would come. Today, video games have become more than tools to pass the time. They are also used for training, research, education, and even rehabilitation. The only limits are those imposed by the imagination of the programmer. One key factor in determining how far the video game industry can go, and the amount of impact it can have is accessibility and games for disabled people.

Some of the main issues some users face with video game accessibility are:

• Not being able to receive the desired feedback from an interaction in the game, as a result of a sensory impairment. For example, being unable to decipher spoken instructions mid-game due to impaired hearing. Or being unable to read visual cues due to visual impairment.
• Not being able to provide the required input, due to some sort of motor impairment. For example, users who make use of eye trackers will not get the same level of immersion in video games which need a large amount of input as regular users. Think button bashing on fighting games.
• Not being able to fully comprehend the intricacies of game play, or an inability to provide the right kind of input. Normally stemming from some level of cognitive impairment. For example, a user with learning difficulties may experience poor comprehension when playing.

How can developers help overcome some of the above issues? All video games should include Tier 1 accessibility.

As the name implies, this is the lowest level of accessibility that video game developers should hope to achieve. It includes the use of:

Remappable buttons – This allows users to change the configuration of the video game controls in a manner that makes the most ergonomic sense to them.

Colour-blind options – Research has shown the most common form of colour-blindness is the red-green variety. As many as 8 percent of all men have some variation of colour-blindness. So, video game developers should include an alternative way to provide in game information, other than colour.

Closed captioning – Most games these days include subtitles as an option and this is a very useful feature. However, closed captioning takes this one step further and encompasses the entire range of verbal communication; including voice tones and other auditory cues. This is vital in some video games where picking up on these cues may be the difference between success and failure.

Tutorials – Many people in the world are kinaesthetic or tactile learners. Meaning they learn by actually carrying out the activities themselves. For these people tutorials are invaluable. Tutorials give users the ability to learn how to play the game without fear of loss or defeat. This allows users with cognitive disabilities to learn the mechanics of the game without fear of failure.

Accessible Controllers

Some developers are dedicated to eliminating the exclusionary elements in hardware controllers. Developing new ways of inputting commands that a more universally applicable. For example, controllers that allow more complex controller inputs with a single motion can help individuals with conditions that affect motor movement.

In 2015, the PlayStation 4 redefined the landscape of accessibility in gaming by introducing a system-level re-mapping of controller buttons. This gave users with motor impairments the chance to enjoy games that they would otherwise be unable to play. In 2018, the Microsoft released it’s Xbox Adaptive Controller. This gave gamers the opportunity to make use of a range of assistive devices such as switches and bite pedals.  Microsoft have also released diagrams for their patented braille controller. As significant as these achievements are, there are still giant strides to be made in the field of inclusive gaming.

Making Progress

Many of the recent innovations in inclusive gaming have stemmed from the willingness of major developers to incorporate accessibility into their big-budget gaming designs. Ubisoft, for example, had begun to enforce stricter requirements for sub-titling and the use of trigger warnings in 2008, and the rest of the industry had slowly started to adapt (learn more). In 2015, World of Warcraft, one of the biggest online games, added a colour-blind mode. This feature was met with universal acclaim by gamers and gaming enthusiasts.

Many current-gen titles have embraced inclusivity in gaming. Naughty Dog’ Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End and The Last of Us titles are hailed as some of the most inclusive games of all time (BBC Article). Josh Straub, an avid gamer couldn’t get past a section on Uncharted 2 due to his disability. He complained to Naughty Dog and they brought him in and worked with him to ensure the same issues didn’t occur in future games (further details).

All game developers and designers can benefit from making their games more inclusive. Hopefully, other developers will follow in Naughty Dog’s footsteps. The new wave of inclusive gaming is still in its infancy, but it has already shown signs of blossoming into a full movement. Things can only get better.

Thanks for reading,

A2B.

Further Resources:

This is a great article from Lad Bible on the history of accessibility in gaming.

Josh Straub, mentioned above was the gamer that helped Naughty Dog improve their accessibility.  He has his own website Dager System where he reviews the accessibility of new games.

Steve Saylor is a visually impaired gamer who has a popular YouTube channel showcasing the challenged he faces while gaming. This is a popular video of his and check out his channel for more…

Book a DSA assessment.

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Studying At Home Tips

How to stay focused at home? Here are our studying at home tips

We all have different ways of processing information. If your method of studying usually involves sitting with your head down in the library, then having to change because of the global pandemic may be a bit tricky.

Here are our top studying at home tips to help you make the most out of your home study time.

1. Stick to a routine

Most of the problems associated with home study have to do with a lack of motivation. Having a strict routine helps you stay motivated and driven even in the midst of distractions.

Of course, setting a routine that deviates wildly from your normal activities may be more of a hindrance than advantage, therefore it is best to stick to a routine that doesn’t change your usual pattern of activities too much.

2. Create a study schedule

When you don’t have lectures and seminars to keep you on schedule, your study habits can suffer. Having a study schedule is essential in making sure you set your focus on the most important task at hand.

3. Stay in touch with your tutor and classmates

Getting in contact with your tutor or classmates creates a shared sense of purpose, and it goes a long way in sparking motivation and keeping you driven in times like this.

Virtual meetings can be held with the use of apps like Zoom, Skype, FaceTime, or good old phone calls, and they give you the ability to bounce ideas off your peers as needed.

4. Have a dedicated workspace

At this point we should start to notice a trend; a lot of the issues with studying at home arise from an interruption in your normal pattern, and the only way to reverse that is by creating a pattern similar to your old one. Creating a dedicated workspace in your home is a study pattern that mimics the library environment and can help you settle in to home study.

5. The Pomodoro Technique

This is a tried and tested technique to help improve focus and reduce distractions. It works by focusing on a singular task for about 20-25 minutes, then taking a five minute break to refresh your mind.

It has been proven to help increase motivation and renew your mental energy when it starts to flag.

Getting started with the Pomodoro technique.

6. Engage your learning

Try to learn as you would at university. For example, if you take notes in lectures then also take notes at home. Always have a notebook and a pen handy. If treat your home study with the same attitude as studying at university then you’ll definitely reap the rewards.

7. Give yourself something to look forward to 

Research has shown that humans are motivated by the idea of reward at the end of periods of stress or intense effort. Studying is no different.

Because of this, setting some sort of reward for yourself can be a great way to keep yourself motivated, in the face of what often seems like monotonous and unrewarding work.

8. Take regular breaks

It’s even more important to take regular breaks during home study than when you’re at university because you will usually have more distractions in your home. Having regular scheduled breaks will help you deal with these distractions.

9. Block out Distractions.

If you really can’t focus, using apps like Forest or Freedom can help you shut off some of the more tempting apps (like Instagram), while you get some studying done. We have full articles covering how to use these apps below…

How to use Forest

How to use Freedom

If you are a student with additional needs going to university in September, make sure you get your dsa assessment booked as soon as possible. 

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Decision Day: To Study or Defer?

Today is the final day you are able to accept your place at University in September. Are you going to choose to study or defer?

UCAS has said there are still 65,000 applicants who have yet to make their mind up.

What is normally a fairly straight forward decision is being made harder by the difficulties COVID-19 has introduced.

With the social side of the University experience looking like it will be restricted come September, you may be faced with the reality that your first year will not be as you imagined.

However, at A2B Assessments we prescribe more to the glass half full analogy, rather than the glass half empty.

Some positives to consider:

Universities are doing everything they can to make this year as normal a University experience as they can.  By September this may not be too different from the usual experience. There will still be face to face classes, social events and pubs and bars will be open! The only real difference is that social distancing will likely be enforced.

Due to people deferring, there are more places available at some of the top Universities in the world. Be warned that it is possible the intake in 2021 will be much larger than normal and therefore places may be limited.

With online lectures and seminars everything will be recorded. This means you can can really make the most of your learning and re-watch any content that you found confusing or tough.

Decision Time

Whether you decided to take your place or not, good luck with whatever the next year brings.

If do decide to take your place and you have additional needs, then make sure you get your Disabled Students Allowance in place before you start in September. This can be imperative to your success! You can find all the details you need on our website here, and you can can also book your DSA assessment.

All the best,

A2B

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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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