Learning
and Teaching Committee
Admissions Policy and Procedure for Disabled Students
This policy
relates to the admission of all students applying to study at the university,
including foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate students.
General information
about undergraduate admissions procedures can be found at
[insert web
link]
Answers to
frequently asked questions about postgraduate admissions can be found at:
[insert web
link]
Confidentiality statement
No information regarding a student’s
disability will be disseminated either within the university or to external
agencies without the student’s consent during any stage of the policy
described below.
1. Definition of Disability for the purposes of the
policy
1.1 The Disability
Discrimination Act (DDA) defines a disabled person has having a physical or
mental impairment which has a long term and substantial effect on her/his
ability to carry out normal day to day activities. Under the DDA, long term
means that the impairment has lasted, or is likely to last, a period of more
than 12 months. Substantial means that effect of the impairment must be more
than minor or trivial.
1.2
Disabled students covered by this policy include those with sensory and
physical impairments (including mobility difficulties), Specific Learning Difficulties,
mental health difficulties, long term medical conditions (including hidden
disabilities such as asthma, epilepsy and diabetes) and autistic spectrum
difficulties including Asperger’s syndrome.
1.3 For the
purpose of the policy, Specific Learning Difficulties include (but are not
limited to) Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Attention Deficit Disorders, Dyscalculia or
any other Specific Learning Difficulty recognised by a qualified external
professional, such as an educational psychologist.
1.4 The
2005 DDA amendments also recognise that long term medical conditions are
disabilities from the point at which they are diagnosed (for example HIV,
cancer and Multiple Sclerosis). It also recognises that mental health conditions need not be clinically well recognised to be covered
by the DDA. Therefore, the policy also refers to students covered by this
definition.
2. Purpose of the policy
2.1
3. Declaring a disability
3.1 All
potential students applying to study at
3.2 Although
students are strongly encouraged to use the opportunity to declare a disability
on application, they may contact the Disabilities and Additional Needs Service
(DANS) directly. However, declaring a disability after application may limit
the amount of time available for the university to consider and arrange for
support prior to the start of a programme.
3.3 Any
declarations of a disability will be referred to DANS. This is to ensure that
potential students are advised on the types of support and adjustments
available to them. DANS also works closely with academic departments to ensure
a disabled students needs are fully considered.
3.4 All
academic departments judge applications solely on academic grounds.
4. Procedure for Applications
4.1 All
potential students should declare any disability directly on their application.
This information will be accessed by DANS at the same time it is passed to an
academic department.
4.2 All
students declaring a Specific Learning Difficulty (including Dyslexia) will be
contacted in writing by DANS and informed of the range of support options
available to them. Students are also encouraged to contact DANS directly to
discuss any additional support requirements they may have because of their Specific
Learning Disability.
4.3 DANS
will send students declaring a disability (other than a Specific Learning
Difficulty) an Initial Assessment Form (IAF). The purpose of this form is to
provide students with an opportunity to describe any support needs they may
have. Disabled students are encouraged to complete and return this form to
DANS, who may inform other departments in the university (including academic
departments) about a student’s support needs (where this is relevant).
4.4 All
disabled students are encouraged to visit the university to discuss their
support needs with DANS, academic departments and other relevant departments
within the university. It is strongly advised that students use these visits to
assist the university in understanding their requirements and to review the
suitability of the facilities on offer, such as adapted accommodation,
assistive technology, the provision of care support and the accessibility of
the campus.
4.5 DANS
will consult with academic departments and other internal/external agencies
(such as accommodation services) to ensure that a disabled student is fully
aware of how their needs may be met. The process of informing students of how their
needs will be met will be co-ordinated by DANS. However, where support or
adjustments involve collaborative working with other departments (including
academic, accommodation or other support services), information as to the
nature of support or adjustments may be supplied directly by the department in
question.
4.6 Students should ensure they have sufficient
information about support and reasonable adjustments on which to base decisions
about programme acceptance prior to accepting an offer of a place.
4.7 In the event that a student chooses not to
declare a disability on application or during the admissions process, support
or reasonable adjustments may not be in place for the commencement of a
programme of study.
5. Policy for where support or adjustments cannot be
provided
5.1 In
exceptional circumstances, the university may judge that it cannot meet some or
all of the support requirements or adjustments requested by a student. Should
this occur, the student will be informed in writing of the reasons why support
or adjustments cannot be provided by the Director of Student Services.
Areas which
the university may consider in this respect are:
5.1.1
Where
adjustments to learning, teaching or assessments methods cannot be achieved
whilst maintaining the academic integrity of a programme
5.1.2
Where
a student requires academic or personal assistance which cannot be reasonably
supplied by the university
5.1.3
Where
adjustments to physical facilities or premises cannot be achieved in good time
or by reasonable means for the commencement of student’s programme.
5.2 In all
cases, the decision not to provide support or adjustments will only be taken
after a thorough and transparent investigation of all available options, in
consultation with the student and any other departments within the university,
including DANS.
5.3 The
level of any possible adjustments or support will be detailed in the written
response provided outlining the decision, to enable the student to make an
informed decision about pursuing a place at the university.
5.4 Should
a student disagree with the decision not to provide support or reasonable
adjustments, they will have the right to make an appeal against this decision. All
appeals should be directed in writing to the Academic Registrar. The appeal
with then be considered by the Academic Registrar and may involve consultation
with any department who had considered the student’s needs.
5.5 In the
event that the university cannot reach a decision about the nature of an
appeal, the university may elect to consult with external experts about the
nature of the support or adjustments being requested.
5.6 Full
time undergraduate applicants will be advised of their rights to make an
additional UCAS choice to replace Loughborough on their application forms in
the event that this decision precludes them from studying at the university.
6. Procedure for Initial Teacher Training (ITT) Students:
Fitness to Teach
6.1 All
entrants to programmes leading to teacher training qualifications must be
“fit to teach”, i.e. they do not have any physical or mental
condition which could create risk to their safety or that of the children they
teach, or prevent them carrying out their duties effectively. This is in
accordance with government guidance.
6.2 ITT
students are required as a condition of admission to complete a declaration of
health questionnaire to demonstrate they meet the health requirements of the
teaching profession.
6.3 The
questionnaire will be forwarded, in confidence, to the Occupational Health
Department. Where appropriate, and with the student’s agreement,
information will be passed to the Teacher Education Unit (TEU) relating to solely
any adjustments needed in response to a health problem or disability.
6.4
Students recognised as being fit to teach may additionally be recommended to
seek further advice and support from DANS, based on the information disclosed
in the questionnaire.
6.5 In exceptional circumstances, the
Occupational Health Department may recommend that a student is not fit to
teach. In these circumstances, the TEU and the Academic Registrar will be
informed and the student will be informed of the decision in writing, detailing
the reasons why such a decision has been reached.
Appendix One; DANS contact details
Disabilities
& Additional Needs Service
Room K1.04
James Kirby - Head of Service - Tel: (01509) 22 2769
Sharron Sturgess - Disability Officer - Tel: (01509) 22 8339
Dan Doran - Mental Health Co-ordinator - Tel: (01509) 22 8338
Natalie McKeown - Dyslexia Adviser (Term-time only) - Tel:
(01509) 22 2776
Karen Dilks - Secretary - Tel: (01509) 22 2770 - Fax:
(01509) 22 3933
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