Online safety for students with disabilities

This page includes specific resources and information to help students who experience disabilities navigate the online world in a safer way. It is important to remember that although the internet contains heightened risks for disabled users, using it safely and implementing good practice will allow you to engage positively and gain some of the benefits of it.

Looking after your wellbeing and safety online is crucial and we recognise how methods for this differ across the needs of groups within the University, such as the particular needs of our disabled community. With the internet being increasingly integrated into our lives, using it safely is the best approach rather than avoidance. 

These resources can be helpful to share with those supporting you as well.

Identifying disability-related online harassment

Cyberbullying is a form of abuse occurring online, which uses digital technology to cause harm and distress to other people. Common places where this occurs on the internet include social media platforms and chat forums where people can anonymously produce content. 

Students with disabilities are classed as a more vulnerable category at greater risk of victimisation from this type of crime. 29% of adults with disabilities using the internet have experienced bullying online, and younger users are more affected, with the figures rising to 47% of 18-24 year olds. 

Therefore, recognising what cyberbullying looks like and how to report it are crucial for students' digital wellbeing and safety. 

Listed below are resources which will help you identify different forms of online abuse and how to tell whether an incident is a disability hate crime. 

Online forms of abuse experienced by adults at risk of harm | Iriss 

Easy Read Guide to Keeping Safe Online | changepeople.org (pdf document) 

What is Cyber Bullying? | Ann Craft Trust 

What is Disability Hate Crime? | Ann Craft Trust

How adults with intellectual disability experience online abuse | eSafety Commissioner

(British Sign Language video) Disability #HateCrime | Police Scotland

Campus Security

Campus security are available 24-hours a day to support staff and students across the University Estate every day of the year. The security team can help with:

  • crime prevention
  • event security
  • out-of-hours fault reporting
  • hour-of-hours building access

Check out the campus security webpages for emergency and non-emergency contact numbers.

Tip: Save these numbers in your phone so they are easy to find when you want them!

Contact Security | The University of Edinburgh Estates

Support from the University

The University recognises the harm caused by online harassment and abuse for disabled students, and offer resources to support students who have experienced this. 

Counselling sessions, which can be beneficial for dealing with the impact of discrimination and harassment online. 

Student Counselling | The University of Edinburgh

The Disability and Learning Support service offer a range of resources including one to one mental health mentoring for disabled students.

Disability & Learning Support Service | The University of Edinburgh

Any forms of bullying, harassment and intimidation can be reported via the University's Report and Support service. 

Report + Support | The University of Edinburgh

Be careful using these spaces: they are not moderated or affiliated with the University of Edinburgh but are some platforms that we have found online that may function as more positive corners of the internet. We are not responsible for the content on them but hope they can provide some positivity and safe space for our disabled community. 

Able Here provide an online social network for disabled internet users.

Able Here | Free online social network for disabled people

Disability United have created an online community to exchange advice and support between disabled people. 

Disabled United | Networking community

Scope's online forum offers a space to make friends and speak about common issues.

Home - Scope | Online Community

Ability Net provide training and resources to help disabled adults navigate the internet and online-related accessibility adjustments.

Free digital skills support for older people and disabled adults across the UK | AbilityNet

Business without Barriers is a space created by the Federation of Small Businesses to support disabled people interested in business careers.

Business Without Barriers | Federation of Small Businesses

Inspire offer a range of online courses to support people with digital accessibility, among other topics. 

Courses | Inspire - Culture, Learning, Libraries


Resources available beyond the University can also assist you with safety advice, support and guidance for reporting. These can be useful for those supporting you through incidents of abuse as well. 

Disability abuse is a hate crime, and Police Scotland have created an online reporting tool for those who wish to report it.

Reporting hate crime | Police Scotland 

Sometimes it can be difficult to distinguish what a hate crime is, so this easy read guide outlines the main features to help people identify it. 

Easy read guide to recognising and reporting disability hate crime | Report It 

Disability Justice have created a disability specific discrimination guide.

Hate crime discrimination guide | Disability Justice

This resource from Scope UK includes details on recognising and reporting disability hate crime.

Recognising and reporting disability hate crime | Scope UK

This BBC News article details what mate crime is - a particular form of crime that is more likely to affect vulnerable/disabled people. 

Mate crime: The grooming of vulnerable people | BBC News

This video was made by young disabled people to provide other young disabled people with advice for using the internet.

Advice from young disabled people on using the internet | Anti Bullying Alliance 

This guide to dealing with bullying for autistic adults covers online forms of harassment. 

Dealing with bullying: a guide for autistic adults | National Autistic Society

The National Association for People Abused in Childhood have a specialised guide on dealing with later abuse as a disabled adult.

Disability and Abuse Booklet | National Association for People Abused in Childhood (pdf)

This disability hate crime guide has been designed for carers and supporters to help disabled victims of crime. 

Disability hate crime guide for carers and supporters | Report It (pdf)


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