The National Coordination Team for Widening Participation

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• The National Co-ordination Team for Widening
  Participation
• Mike Wray
• Senior Policy Adviser

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Outline

• Definitions differences in education
• Policy drivers
• Funding available for HE learners
• Support available in HE

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Action on Access seeks to influence policy and
practice and support those working to promote and
enhance widening participation

• Working with institutions and key stakeholders
• Collaborating with partnerships, including
  Aimhigher
• Promoting inclusion, equality and diversity

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Definitions differences

• A physical or mental impairment which has a
  substantial and long-term adverse effect on
  (his/her) ability to carry out normal day-to-day
  activities DDA, 1995
• Specific learning difficulty
• Blind/partial sight Deaf/partial hearing
• Wheelchair/mobility

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Definitions contd.

• Autistic spectrum disorder or Aspergers
• Mental health difficulties
• Unseen (e.g. diabetes, epilepsy, asthma)
• 2 disability/special needs/medical condition
• Other disability/special needs
• Addiction/colour blindness/temporary??

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Differences

• SEN/EBD
• School action, school action plus, statementing
• Additional learning support
• Disabled students allowances

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Policy drivers

• DDA 1995
• SENDA 2001
• DED 2005
• Disability Equality Schemes (previously
  disability statements)

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Statistics

• 50 of young people into HE by 2010
• Disabled people half as likely to have a degree
• Disabled no qualification 23.2 employed vs.
  Non-disab. No qual. 60.1
• Degree 75.7 vs 89.8
• AGCAS research on first destination
• 89.1 non-disabled graduates vs. 85.4 in some
  kind of work or study

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Participation rates

• 6.5 of all UK domiciled students report
  disability in 2006/07 ? 2.6 in 94/95
• 2.8 of all UK domiciled students report dyslexia
  (SpLD) in 2006/07? 0.39 in 94/95
• 16-34 yr olds approx. 11 of all adults disabled
  (LFS) in Britain

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Disabled students allowances

• Non-medical helper
• 15,390 20,520
• Major items of specialist equipment
• 5,161 5,161
• Other disability-related expenditure
• 1,293 1,724
• http//practitioners.studentfinanceengland.co.uk
  (finance packages)
• Paper forms available at direct.gov.uk

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Support available

• Reasonable adjustments
• Assessment/examinations
• Teaching and learning
• Accommodation
• Learning support e.g. library assistance
• Disability office (or Learning Support/Additional
  Learning Needs etc)

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Support in HE contd.

• Pre-entry/transition support
• Aimhigher associates scheme
• Summer schools
• Early induction (e.g. Derby, Bath Spa, UCLAN)
• Mentoring (e.g. Brunel, Essex)

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Summary

• Disabled learners can and do study in higher
  education and have professional careers
• Indicate SEN/additional needs on application
• Apply early for DSAs
• Contact/liaise with disability services in HE
  early

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Contact

• Mike Wray, Senior Policy Adviser
• Action on Access
• Edge Hill University
• Ormskirk
• Lancashire
• L39 4QP
• info_at_actiononaccess.org
• Telephone [phone]

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• The National Co-ordination Team for Widening
  Participation