Information and Guidelines for Staff at Glasgow University

Guide to the Disability Discrimination Act

Guidance for colleges, universities and adult community learning providers in Great Britain. A guide to the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), aimed specifically at post-16 education providers, was published by the Disability Rights Commission (DRC) in August 2007. The guidance is available in hard copy or on a USB memory stick.  The guidance is also available to download from the Equality and Human Rights Commission Website which now has responsibility for the work of the DRC.

There have been a number of changes in recent years to disability discrimination legislation, especially to the education provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA). The law now protects disabled people, including people with a long-term health condition, against discrimination and unfair treatment in almost every aspect of college and university life. This includes students, staff and others who use the services and facilities of the institution. In addition, the new Disability Equality Duty requires education institutions to promote disability equality across the whole range of their functions and activities. Institutions also need to measure the progress they make in improving outcomes for disabled students and staff. The DRC have decided to produce a single guide to the DDA for colleges, universities and adult community learning providers across England, Scotland and Wales.

What does the guidance cover?
The guidance will give you an introduction to the law in all areas of college and university life. It covers duties in relation to students, staff and service users and will signpost you to the relevant Codes of Practice and guidance for further information.
There is information aimed particularly at senior management about embedding disability equality in core policies, procedures and across planning cycles.
The guidance looks in detail at the experience of disabled people right across the institution. There are real life examples of good and bad practice from staff and students about their experiences.

Areas covered include:

• marketing
• student admissions
• recruitment
• frontline services
• estates
• procurement
• health and safety
• making adjustments and reviewing support
• social activities
• teaching and learning
• assessments and exams
• competence standards
• work placements
• staff training
• employment practices.