Making reasonable adjustments to ensure disabled people aren't unfairly disadvantaged or excluded isn't just a “nice thing to do” – it's a legal duty. The University is committed to promoting equality in all its activities and aims to provide an inclusive work, learning, research and teaching environment.

With the impact of COVID-19 seeing most staff working from home and the move to remote teaching and assessment these issues have not gone away. Indeed, disabled people may now need even more support and understanding. The University’s two e-learning resources are aimed at supporting all those, across the University, who work with or advise disabled students and staff. If you are not one of the many colleagues who have already undertaken these courses, you are strongly encouraged to do so and the links below allow you to access them.disability Reasonable adjustments 650

Professor Frank Coton, as the University’s Disability Equality Champion, said of the need for staff to undertake the courses “The disability landscape is very complex and colleagues often find it challenging to understand how best to act in support of disabled colleagues or in supporting the learning of a disabled student. These courses provide valuable insight into the important area of reasonable adjustments and will empower you to do the right things in support of your disabled colleagues and students.”

Implementing Reasonable Adjustments for Students has been specifically designed for all University staff who work with, support or advise disabled students. It provides a practical understanding of what the law means when it talks about "disability" and "reasonable adjustments" and explains the anticipatory duty, on individuals and the University, to disabled students. (50mins)

If you currently have line-management responsibilities for your colleagues, disabled or not, you should undertake Implementing Reasonable Adjustments. You will explore the challenges faced by disabled people at work and get practical guidance on identifying and implementing adjustments that make a real difference. (45mins)
The courses can be accessed via the Equality and Diversity Unit’s Moodle pages. If you have any questions or require additional information/support please contact the Equality and Diversity Unit.


First published: 16 June 2020