March 2024
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This conference focused on priorities and next steps for supporting students with disabilities in higher education, and improving their educational experience and opportunities for progression beyond university.
It brought together representatives across higher education to examine the way that responsibilities of universities are being reassessed with the backing of regulators and advocacy groups.
Delegates assessed latest research, guidance on best practice, practical next steps, and implications for structures and processes within HEIs.
They also considered how to grow the involvement of those with lived experience of visible and non-visible disabilities in charting the way forward for policy and action.
Those attending discussed priorities for the future work of the Disability in Higher Education Advisory Panel, established by the OfS, in advising HEIs on strategies for tackling barriers affecting the experience of students with disabilities, including in areas such as the accessibility and design of the university estate.
Discussion reflected on issues raised in recent research, including TASO’s What works to reduce equality gaps for disabled students and Disabled Students UK’s Access Insights report, which draws on the findings of the annual National Student Survey.
Those attending also considered varying approaches to addressing longstanding issues. We expected discussion on what might be needed to increase awareness and uptake of the ambitions put forward in the Disabled Student Commitment published by the Disabled Students’ Commission in April 2023 and backed by the Office for Students, including its recommendations that senior champions be placed within the governance team of HEIs, and disability passports be implemented to make it easier for disabled students to access support.
The agenda also looked at preparing students for life after higher education, including priorities for recruitment and careers advice, provisions for ongoing study, and improving opportunities for progression into high-skilled employment and leadership positions.
Further sessions discussed funding support for disabled students following the SLC’s July 2023 announcement of new contracts for changing the student loans service model, aimed at refining and improving the process of applying for the Disabled Students’ Allowance.
We are pleased to have been able to include keynote sessions with: Alice Speller, Executive Director, National Association of Disability Practitioners; Mette Anwar-Westander, Founding Director and CEO, Disabled Students UK; and Dr Omar Khan, CEO, Transforming Access and Student Outcomes in Higher Education.
Overall areas for discussion included:
- engagement: priorities moving forward for enabling the voices of students with disabilities to be heard and taken account of - awareness of the visible and non-visible disability spectrum
- implementation: reducing burdens on affected students and meeting their needs - improving internal processes - better cooperation with outside agencies, including information sharing
- the HE experience: strategies for improving the retention, academic achievement, personal experiences and on-time graduation of disabled students
- research: building and sharing the evidence base for HE institutional change - examining impact on grade performance, funding, societal citizenship and the public profile of the sector
- accountability: legal obligations for university leadership - processes in supporting academic success of students with disabilities
- inclusiveness: establishing proactive and sustained university-wide strategies and best practice - estate accessibility - extracurricular activities, teaching, learning, assessment and accommodation
- progression: easing the transition into university and onward to further study and employment
- funding: implications of changes to financial structuring for disabled students, including the Lifelong Learning Act 2023 and any changes to the Disabled Students Allowance
- regulation: assessing options - monitoring the effectiveness of measures taken
The conference was an opportunity for stakeholders to consider the issues alongside key policy officials who attended from DHSC; DfE; Department of Education, NI; DWP; Department for the Economy, NI; Ofsted; The Scottish Government; and the Welsh Government.
