Resources

Under disability legislation universities and staff are required to respond to the needs of individual students. It is against the law to treat a disabled person 'less favourably' than a non-disabled person for a reason that relates to the person's disability.

The Engineering Subject Centre Guide ‘Working with disabled students’ provides a very good introduction for staff on ensuring an inclusive approach and advice on course design. Many of the considerations are likely to benefit the experience of all students.

The Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001 (SENDA) legislation requires institutions to anticipate and address the entitlements of disabled students within all policies and practices, as well as respond to their individual requirements as necessary. The UK Centre for Legal Education offers an overview of the key points of the Act.

SENDA was subsequently supplemented by The Disability Discrimination Act 2005 (DDA). This Act placed a duty on all public bodies, including universities and colleges, to promote disability equality and sets out requirements for physical access in addition to extending the natures of conditions that are covered within the DDA.

For further information on DDA 2005, visit the Inclusion.me.uk website. 

The QAA Code of Practice for the assurance of academic quality and standards in higher education provides guidance on students with disabilities (Section 3), and on admissions to higher education (Section 10).

Techdis (which is funded by JISC) aims ‘...to support the education sector in achieving greater accessibility and inclusion by stimulating innovation and providing expert advice and guidance on disability and technology’. A range of materials and information which can be used by staff is available from their website.

SKILL - The National Bureau for Students with Disabilities promotes opportunities for young people over 16 and adults with any kind of impairment in learning and entry to employment. They provide a wealth of information and advice.

The SWANDS Project at the University of Plymouth produced a useful set of materials to support staff in course delivery.

The Towards Learning Creatively (TLC) website provides ideas on how more creative assessment methods can be used within the curriculum.

The JISC-funded Regional Support Centre has produced an award-winning selection of software to support writing, reading and planning as well as sensory, cognitice and physical difficulties.

See also: Dyslexia and Dyscalculia

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