The NUS ‘Life, Not Numbers’ report into the experiences of disabled students highlighted a number of issues of real concern. The research, conducted in 2009-10, demonstrated most pertinently that for those students who need personal care, accessing this is all too often fraught with real difficulties.
This leaves many disabled students being forced to base institution and course choices on the relative level of care they will be able to receive, rather than on what best suits them. Indeed, this lack of choice seems to contravene the human right to equality in education and to freedom of movement (under article 24 and 18, respectively, of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities).
NUS is therefore calling for the creation of a National Advocacy Service, run by disabled students and graduates, which would help to provide information, advice and guidance (IAG) as to the care disabled students are entitled to, would help to address practical issues surrounding the provision of care, and would provide support when this care is not forthcoming.
This isn’t a big, complicated organisation – we’re talking about it involving a website setting out disabled students’ rights; providing and facilitating access to further information, advice and guidance; and some advocacy from people who have been through the system themselves. But these simple provisions could make a huge difference.
Thinking about applying to university has enough difficulties, and leaving disabled students caught in the middle of arguments between social services and universities about who should be responsible for funding certain types of support is completely unacceptable. If you agree with us, please sign our online petition.
For more information about the NUS Disabled Students’ Campaign, please click here.