FAQ - Where can I find out more regarding disability issues?

Answer

The major pieces of legislation in this area are the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) and the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001 (SENDA). SENDA removes education’s exemption from the DDA and it will come into force from September 2002 making it unlawful for a university or department to discriminate against a disabled person. SENDA applies to providers in England, Scotland and Wales.

Further general information may be found in the Human Rights Act 1998

Organisations include:

• Disability Rights Commission - the Disability Rights Commission (DRC) is an independent body set up by the Government to help secure civil rights for disabled people. Its statutory duties are (1) To work to eliminate discrimination against disabled people. (2) To promote equal opportunities for disabled people. (3)To encourage good practice in the treatment of disabled people. (4)To advise the Government on the working of disability legislation
• Disability– a Government site that provides information on disability rights and legislation.
• Skill: National Bureau for Students with Disabilities - Skill promotes opportunities for young people and adults with any kind of disability in post-16 education, training and employment across the UK.
• Action on Access: Action on Access was established with a remit to provide national support and co-ordination for the funding bodies' widening participation strategy. Elements of that strategy include mainstream formula funding, special initiatives, specific national development and pilot projects.
• TechDis - TechDis is a Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) funded service supporting the further and higher education community in all aspects of technology and disabilities and/or learning difficulties.
• National Disability Team - The National Disability Team (NDT) works on behalf of the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) and the Department for Higher and Further Education Training and Employment (DHFETE) for Northern Ireland. The NDT manages and co-ordinates projects to enhance disability provision in fifty higher education institutions in England and Northern Ireland.
• DialUK - a national organisation for a network of 140 local disability information and advice services run by and for disabled people.

Projects

• Demos project – this project is developing an online learning package which is aimed specifically at academic staff and will examine the issues faced by disabled students in higher education.
• GUIDANCE FOR GRADUATES (1998 – 2000). Guidance for Students and Graduates with Disabilities, University of Plymouth- This Project was initiated by the South West Regional Access Centre for students with disabilities in conjunction with the Careers Service, both at the University of Plymouth. Its purpose reflected a pressing need for graduates with disabilities to receive appropriate careers guidance and graduate level employment on completion of their studies.
• SWANDS project - The South West Academic Network for Disability Support (SWANDS) was a HEFCE funded project of nine HEIs in the South West, co-ordinated and managed by the Disability Assist Services at the University of Plymouth. This document is a staff development resource and may be produced for auditing and training purposes.
• At the portal of the profession – a project undertaken as part of the research project: ‘Opening the Stable Door’- The Veterinary Profession and People with Disabilities. This is a UK project, funded by HEFCE, to examine the extent to which people with disabilities could undertake the training necessary to qualify as a veterinary surgeon in the UK.
• HEFCE disability projects – this site at Bournemouth University has a number of links to disability projects.

Author: This FAQ was written by Sarah Marshall and does not reflect an official endorsement by the LTSN or any other organisaton. Any questions or comments can be sent to:sarah@ltsn-01.ac.uk

Last updated: 01 July 2011