1 / 9

What is a ‘Reasonable Adjustment’?

This article explains what a reasonable adjustment is under the DDA and provides definitions, examples, and best practices for accommodating students with disabilities. It discusses factors taken into account when determining reasonable adjustments and highlights sources of help for creating accessible learning materials.

utterback
Download Presentation

What is a ‘Reasonable Adjustment’?

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. What is a ‘Reasonable Adjustment’? 9th June, 2010 Deb Taylor Disability Services dt8@york.ac.uk

  2. What is a Reasonable Adjustment? Definitions under the DDA • Disability: physical or mental impairment, a specific learning difficulty or health condition that has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on a person’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. • Discrimination: This is not only ‘less favourable treatment’ but also ‘an unjustified failure to take reasonable steps.’

  3. What is a Reasonable Adjustment? The DDA does not define what a ‘reasonable adjustment’ is. Factors taken into account: Health & Safety The effect on other students Cost Maintaining academic standards The duty to make reasonable adjustments is anticipatory.

  4. What is a Reasonable Adjustment? Examples of ‘Reasonable Adjustments’ A Hearing Impaired student may need: a note taker/ permission to record lectures Lecture outlines in advance Seating arrangements changed so the student can lip read more easily Transcripts of any audio/visual material (This can be arranged via Disability Services.) Minimising timetable changes

  5. What is a Reasonable Adjustment? A Visually Impaired Student may need: Lecture outlines/reading lists/reading material in advance Documentation in electronic format A note taker / permission to record lectures Minimising timetable changes Extensions to deadlines for written pieces of work Exam adjustments: extra time, use of a PC, scribe or amanuensis

  6. What is a Reasonable Adjustment? A Dyslexic student may need: Lecture outlines/reading lists/reading material in advance Documentation in electronic format A note taker / permission to record lectures Minimising timetable changes Extensions to deadlines for written pieces of work Exam adjustments: extra time, use of a PC, scribe or amanuensis

  7. What is a Reasonable Adjustment? A student with Mental Health difficulties may need : Lecture outlines in advance Permission to record lectures A study mentor Minimising timetable changes Extensions to deadlines Exam adjustments: extra time, sitting the exam in a separate room More regular meetings with their supervisor

  8. What is a Reasonable Adjustment? BEST PRACTICE Approximately 10% of the student population have a disability of some kind – the majority will be ‘hidden’, and the student may not have disclosed it to the University. Know your students – Disability Services may have already circulated information about the student’s support needs. Talk to the student about what works best for them. There will always be a need to make specific arrangements for individual students. Some of these adjustments – if standard – would improve things for all students. The individual student’s disability would be less of an issue and it would help the university meet its anticipatory duty.

  9. What is a Reasonable Adjustment? Sources of Help Disability Services Creating Accessible Learning Materials (on the VLE) Techdis (www.techdis.ac.uk) Higher Education Academy (http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/ourwork/teachingandlearning/inclusion/disability)

More Related