Learning Support Services Special Educational Needs Disability Act

Learning Support Services Special Educational Needs & Disability Act 2001 (SENDA) Ruth Whitfield http: //www. brad. ac. uk/lss/

Learning Support Services What is it? Amends the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) n Introduces a new Part IV to DDA n Brings education into line with other service providers n 09 November http: //www. brad. ac. uk/lss/ 2

Learning Support Services What is unlawful? n To discriminate against a disabled student: n n n 09 November In the arrangements made for determining admissions In the admission terms By refusing or deliberately omitting to accept an application for admission In the student services it provides By excluding whether permanently or temporarily from the institution http: //www. brad. ac. uk/lss/ 3

Learning Support Services SENDA and IT n n n General teaching and research facilities Distance learning Independent learning Computer facilities Library resources 09 November http: //www. brad. ac. uk/lss/ 4

Learning Support Services Main areas of concern for IT n n n Course materials Computer facilities Institutional and departmental Web sites 09 November http: //www. brad. ac. uk/lss/ 5

Learning Support Services Web sites n Is it a reasonable adjustment to modify or design a Web site to make it accessible? 09 November http: //www. brad. ac. uk/lss/ 6

Learning Support Services Web accessibility Accessibility should form part of the specification for updating and redeveloping a Web site n Web sites need to be accessible to Priority level 1 of the W 3 C guidelines n Prevalent viewpoint: n n 09 November Technology permits accessible Web sites and cost is not prohibitive http: //www. brad. ac. uk/lss/ 7

Learning Support Services The Code of Practice in HE n n “The institution's publicity, programme details and general information should be accessible to people with disabilities and describe the opportunities for disabled students to participate. ” “electronic information, including web sites, is accessible to students with disabilities” 09 November http: //www. brad. ac. uk/lss/ 8

Learning Support Services Provision in other formats n Need to: Be available for the same length of time n Provide updates within the same timescales as those provided on-line. n 09 November http: //www. brad. ac. uk/lss/ 9

Learning Support Services Australian case Bruce Lindsay Maguire v Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games n A blind user unable to access the Sydney Olympic Web site n W 3 C guidelines were taken as the accessibility benchmark n 09 November http: //www. brad. ac. uk/lss/ 10