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What is numeracy?
If you have good numeracy skills you will be able to take part more easily in everyday life, and get on in the workplace and in your school or college. If you have good numeracy skills you can:
- Decide what needs to be measured or calculated;
- Watch, and write down information in the right way;
- Make estimates and check calculations;
- Use maths in everyday situations. For example, you can plan a journey and work out how long it will take, what time you need to leave, what time you expect to arrive, and how much it will cost you.
What is involved in numeracy?
Understanding mathematical information:-
- You know how the number system works, and you understand what we mean by whole numbers, decimals, fractions and percentages;
- You know how to use money; you know how to tell the time and understand things like temperature, distance, area and volume;
- You can use maths language like ‘share’, ‘minus’ and ‘subtract’.
- You should be able to calculate and use numbers:
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- Adding up and taking away; multiplying and dividing;
- Algebra; equations and patterns.
- You should be able to use maths for day-to-day problems in your home, college or work life; for example, planning a journey, splitting a restaurant bill or cooking.
Everyone who has a physical impairment is unique. Remember that the difficulties you have may not be the same as someone else, and the strategies that they use may not suit you as well.
Some people who have a physical impairment may have some difficulties with stamina or concentration. Others may have trouble with handwriting, or with using equipment such as rulers.
Self help
You should:
Agree adjustments with your tutor that will help you to join in to the best of your ability, for example:-
- Every one with a physical impairment is different; what works for someone else won’t necessarily work for you so it is important that you make sure that your tutor and classmates know your preferences;
- Find out as much as you can about different assistive technologies. There are a lot of products available and some are likely to be of real use to you.
Click on
‘disclosure’ for more information about how and when you should tell someone about your disability.
Click on
‘personal organisation’ for more information about how to manage your time and resources.
What can my tutors do to help me?
Your tutors should:
- If you are a wheelchair user:
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- Make sure that desks are provided that are high enough for you to get your legs underneath;
- Make sure that that there is space for your wheelchair within the teaching room – you should not always be stuck at the back (or front) on your own.
- Be able to recommend assistive technology such as screen readers or adapted keyboards;
- Adjust the keyboard control system to suit your needs;
- Use teaching assistants, lab partner or others to provide physical assistance, if necessary.
If you aren’t getting the help recommended here, print off a copy of these pages and use them as a starting point to have a chat with your tutor about what can be done to make sure you are able to get the most from their teaching.
Click on
‘confidentiality’ for information about how your tutor should treat your personal information.
Assistive technologies
What suits you best will depend on your own particular needs:
- Walkers;
- Computer keyguards;
- Power wheelchairs;
- Voice recognition systems;
- Tape/digital recorders;
- Switches to operate a computer;
- Page turners;
- Mouth sticks or mouth-operated joysticks;
- Alternative keyboards;
- Touch windows;
- Trackballs to perform mouse functions.
Useful links
- BBC: Factsheets, worksheets, quizzes and games to help improve your skills
Assistive Technologies
- EmpTech: Emptec aims to provide information resources on assistive technologies that are designed to help those with specific difficulties or disabilities work and study more effectively. The database includes product descriptions, links to manufacturers, suppliers with addresses as well as other related resources including advice and training guides where available.
- Skills for Access: recommends approaches to using multimedia to enhance accessibility of the learning experience and gives detailed information about a range of assistive technologies.
- Open University: provides an overview of assistive technologies with links to products.
Financial Support
- Directgov – The UK Government website - Financial support for young people;
- Directgov – The UK Government website - Support for disabled young people at college or at 6th form;
- Skill - The National Bureau for Students with Disabilities - Funding available to disabled students in further education;
- Skill - The National Bureau for Students with Disabilities – further information about Further Education funding
- Disability Alliance - Disabled Students Project which provides details of the finance and other benefits available to disabled students
UK Disability Organisations
- Skill - The National Bureau for Students with Disabilities – Specific Disability Organisations (A-Z)
- Arthritis Care
- Association of Young People with ME
- Back Care
- British Epilepsy Association
- British Heart Foundation
- British Institute for Brain Injured Children
- British Lung Foundation
- British Polio Society
- Brittle Bone Society
- Children Living with Inherited Metabolic Diseases
- Cystic Fibrosis Trust
- Down's Syndrome Association
- Genetic Interest Group
- Haemophilia Association
- International Glaucoma Association
- Jennifer Trust for Spinal Muscular Atrophy
- Limbless Association
- National Head Injury Association
- The Migraine Trust
- Multiple Sclerosis Society
- RADAR
- Raynauds and Scleroderma Association
- Reach
- The Scoliosis Association
- The Sickle Cell Society
- SCOPE
- Spinal Injuries Association
- The Stroke Association
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