As Disability Services Officers, one of our main challenges is to manage 'tricky' situations, particularly if we have a client with difficult behaviours. We can also encounter academic staff who may not be cooperative or who end up in conflict with the student. Our role involves addressing the needs of the student, whilst at the same time maintaining a positive relationship with the academic and/or faculty and ensuring that accommodations are reasonable and faculty requirements are met.

We are proposing an interactive workshop aimed at presenting specific case studies, highlighting 'tricky' areas, creating opportunities for discussion and looking at practical outcomes. Case studies to be looked at will highlight the abovementioned issues and feature students with diagnosed and undiagnosed mental illnesses; students with Asbergers Syndrome; students with ADHD or another type of learning disability. We will look at what are the critical ingredients for success in negotiations with students and staff alike with a view to sharing stories and problem-solving.