Scenario:

A TW graduate has gained a 0.6 contractual role at the university on a course via the Academic Development Fund. The Academic Development Fund was used to recruit new academic posts and evidence-based developmental initiatives that bring together a range of colleagues across UAL.

As part of the TW programme, the TW academic receives additional support as they declared that they were was neurodiverse. The TW academic on their induction day with their new course team and line manager shared they would need additional support as part of them being an Associate lecturer and making things more accessible. After going through the disability staff route the TW AL was told they would need a laptop with computer-aided software and this was to be organised by their line manager. The line manager was informed that they would need to order the laptop and use their course budget code to finish the process.

“After going through the disability staff route the TW AL was told they would need a laptop with computer-aided software… After 4 months the TW associate lecturer tried to find out what was happening with them receiving the laptop.”

After 4 months the TW associate lecturer tried to find out what was happening with them receiving the laptop. The line manager informed the TW associate lecturer that they were unable to order the laptop and this would have to be done by the disability teams. The TW associate lecturer went back to disability services to be told the same that their line manager was the individual who could order it. The TW academic went back and tried to explain and again was delayed in receiving her laptop.

“The TW academic was extremely frustrated as they were unable to receive the support they really needed… ”

The TW academic was extremely frustrated as they were unable to receive the support they really needed and decided to go and buy their own personal laptop. A few months later the TW academic wrote a complaint and a week later the laptop was ordered by their line manager and arrived promptly.