Supplementary written evidence submitted
by the National Union of Students (NUS)
1. ACCESS TO
HIGHER EDUCATION
FOR DISABLED
PEOPLE
The NUS "Life, Not Numbers" report (2010)
into the experiences of disabled students in higher education
using personal care packages found a number of issues of real
concern:
Institution
and course choices are too frequently based on the relative level
of care students are able to receive, rather than on what otherwise
best suits the applicant.
Information,
advice and guidance (IAG) about support and equipment is sorely
inadequate, and where it does exist, information given in one
area often does not apply in another.
Disabled
students are too often caught in disputes between local authorities
and higher education institutions (HEIs) about who should be responsible
for funding certain types of support. This has a serious impact
on aspirations, and can cause people to doubt their decision to
attend university altogether.
Ambiguity
about the funding responsibilities of health authorities, universities
and social services is a real problem, and needs to be clearly
defined in relation to personal care and support of disabled students
in higher education.
The report highlighted a palpable need for improved
information, advice and guidance (IAG) for prospective disabled
students, setting out their rights and the levels of support that
they can expert, according to their needs; and for accessible
advocacy and practical support for prospective disabled students
when problems are encountered.
The report therefore recommends the establishment
of a National Advocacy Service which would:
Provide
information, advice and guidance (IAG) as to the care disabled
students are entitled toboth via a website and otherwise
through direct contact with an adviser;
Help
to address practical issues surrounding the provision of care;
and
Provide
support when this care is not forthcoming.
We would envisage that the National Advocacy Service
would be run prominently by disabled graduates.
In addition to the very significant benefits a National
Advocacy Service would offer both in encouraging participation
in higher education and in supporting disabled students through
the university application process, it is likely that the provision
of a national service such as this would allow for some efficiencies
and savings in the medium-term, given that some of the support
that would be offered by the National Advocacy Service is currently
offered in a largely "ad hoc" manner by individual HEIs
and local authorities. As it stands, support varies dramatically
across the country and across different institutions, making it
less accessible and less efficient.
13 June 2011
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