Press Release
New term brings better access for disabled students
25 August 2005
Thousands of disabled students will have new rights to better access on university and further education campuses under new laws in force from Thursday 1st September.
Under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), universities and colleges must make 'reasonable' changes to their premises to make them more user-friendly for Britain's disabled students. A failure to do so could result in disabled students taking court action.
Campuses will have to ensure that lecture halls, libraries, ICT suites and halls of residence are more user-friendly. This includes altering steps, providing lifts, dropping kerbs, and making sure better lighting and clear signage are provided where it is reasonable to do so.
Over 22,000 disabled students applied through the University and College Admissions System (UCAS) last year. However, research by the Disability Rights Commission (DRC) in 2002 among young disabled people found that of those who had not gone on to further or higher education, 30% felt they were prevented from doing so for a reason relating to their impairment.
This is the final part of provisions for post-16 education under the DDA. In 2002, the Act introduced a fairer admissions process for disabled students and since 2003 universities and colleges have had a duty to provide extra equipment, note takers and British Sign Language interpreters for students who may need them to do their course (1).
Bert Massie, Chairman of the DRC, said:
"Going on to further and higher education is key for disabled people to get the skills they need to fulfil their ambitions. Access to the sites of learning is fundamental to this. No matter how accessible the teaching is, it's not much use if you can't get in the door. This term will see the final piece of the jigsaw going into place giving disabled people the rights they need to ensure they get the education to which they are entitled."
Further and higher education institutions have been supported by substantial capital investment by post-16 funding bodies. The Higher Education Funding Council for England, for example, had two capital projects allocating £56 million in 2001 and £117 million in 2003 to higher education institutions, specifically targeted at improving provision for disabled students.
For more information please contact Alyson Rose in the DRC's Press Office on 0207 543 7043 or out of hours on 0777 6171279.
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