From consultation over the years with both the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and the legal education providers, it has come to our attention that many students either do not declare their disability or expect the universities or providers to have the necessary requirements already in place. This is unrealistic.
Here is a quick guide that we hope will help students get the most out of their studies and put at ease any doubts they have over disclosing their disability.
Your expectations
One thing that came up from both the universities and providers was that student expectations are too high and they believe that the support plans that are in place for them at college will automatically be carried over and in place when term starts. This is not the case and students must realise that universities and providers need advance notice to carry out assessments of their own to make the reasonable adjustments.
If you did not declare your disability at the application stage or during the UCAS/Student Finance for Disabled Students Allowance then you should give at least a month's advance notice before starting the course.
Declaring your disability
By declaring your disability, you make sure that the university/providers can assess you and make sure that they put in place the necessary support required for you to complete your studies.
By doing so you will not be penalised or marked negatively and your disability will not be made public knowledge. On the contrary, your disclosure is confidential and only those privy will have access to the exact support you need. The main purpose is to make sure that you are able to carry out your studies independently and without hindrance.
Your assessment and adjustments
By declaring your disability the university/provider must take all reasonable steps in ensuring that you are provided with the right support to enable you to carry out your studies on a level playing field with able bodied students. They will do this by taking an assessment of your needs and translating this intto a Learning Contract (or DSA Report) outlining the support you will need and how the university/provider will meet those needs.
The SRA's view point on the matter is that the providers are free to deal with reasonable adjustments as they see fit on a case by case basis and need not be consulted.
Some of the common reasonable adjustments provided are:
- accessible rooms for lectures and exams
- separate rooms for exams
- note takers
- amanuensis
- guides
- extra time in exams
- support staff
- rest breaks
- transcribing services etc
Problems with support
Many students have complained to us that their Learning Contracts are not being adhered too and the extra stress this causes on them results in poor performance in exams.
From the conversations we have had, it appears that internal communication within the university or providers is often the cause. It is therefore imperative that if you do see lack of support, the first step to take is to talk to them and discuss what support needs to be put in place to put you on a level playing field again. If that fails then you should follow your university/provider's complaints procedure.
The SRA's view on the matter is that they need only be concerned in relation to core modules such as advocacy and interviewing etc.
For further information and support email lawyerswithdisabilities@lawsociety.org.uk.