Disability Issues and Resources
Aimhigher Southwest Resources
"Learner Profile" of Louise Redsull, Psychology Graduate of the University of Bath. Louise was the first blind person in Buckinghamshire to go through mainstream education. Read about her experience of university. Louise is the student absailing in this movie clip from the Aimhigher West DVD "What's Stopping You?"
National Aimhigher Project: Enabling Disabled Learners to Participate In Summer School Provision. Aimhigher South West Summary Report for the Region, May 2007, by Tina Elliott, Impact Associates
Community Arts with Disabled people. A practitioner's guide and ideas pack providing new ideas for arts and crafts workshops for people with learning difficulties and disabilities.
Achieveability page This is our web page in support of the national AchieveAbility Aimhigher project which aims to break down barriers to higher education for students with Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLDs), improving access to HE for learners with Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, and Dyscalculia by raising awareness of opportunities and support, leading to progression into HE, Qualifications, and Employment.
Aimhigher West Resources
Aimhigher West Disabled Student's Allowance leaflet
Aimhigher West Disabled Students Poster
See also the Aimhigher West Disability page
Disability Extra Costs Claim form An example of a claim form for the extra costs of making events accessible, developed by the Disability Strand of Aimhigher West, for widening participation activities that serve people with disabilities and specific learning difficulties.
Ensuring Inclusion A Good Practice Disability Checklist intended for people planning events.
Recommended Good Practice for Presenting Information
Notes and Handouts (pdf) or Notes and Handouts (word)
Slides (pdf file) or Slides (word file)
Online Disability Resources
Government Report Disabled Students and Higher Education May 2009
Accessibility in Learning - the QIA Excellence Gateway
Aimhigher East of England Disability Resources, especially the "Thihnking About Higher Education" document
Action on Access - Disability Network Meetings -Sharing, embedding and sustaining practice
Post-16 Education
and Disabled Learners (pdf)
A guide for schools, colleges and for information,
advice and guidance workers.
Action on Access seminar presentations on Embedding Disability on their website.
Action on Access Booklet - Disability: a rough guide for WP practitioners
Aimhigher West Midlands Guide for Disabled Learners interested in Higher Education
Risk Assessment for including Learners with Disability
Open University: Making your teaching inclusive - Practical advice
Direct Gov disability organisations page
ableize A UK and Ireland resource of disability mobility and special needs advice, support and information that is owned and run by people with disabilities. Find products and services, sports and holidays plus the largest collection of disabled clubs, groups and charities in the UK. All this plus children's and child care needs, education, wheelchairs and vehicles plus mobility, walking, living and bathing aids.
Disability Websites
Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Portal
National Bureau for Students with Disabilities
Disabled Information from the Disabled
Disability Toolkits for Off-Campus Learning
National Association of Disability Practitioners
Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities
Online Manual for Student Mental Health
The British Dyslexia Association
The Vassall Centre Trust, a charity led by disabled people, provides accessible office space and conference facilities in Bristol to offer a barrier-free professional environment in which people with all forms of impairment work on equal terms with non-disabled people. Over fifteen voluntary organisations currently rent office space at the Vassall Centre. A fully accessible conference centre is located on the same three acre site.
MENCAP Documents (pdf files) on Learning Disabilities
What is a Learning Disability?
Get Involved with Get Together
Medical and Social Models of Disability
Aimhigher West Midlands Summer School Issues - Four Cases
Disability Issues for Summer School Organisers
James
At a pre-summer school meeting a teacher told you that James has Asperger’s Syndrome and is obsessed with Sam, a girl from his school. Sam is the only other person from their school attending the summer school.
Sam is usually pleasant to James but James wants to constantly talk to and be with her. As a result Sam does not want to be with him when she comes on the summer school.
Before the summer school starts you have spoken to Sam and told her that she can talk to any of the staff at any time if she is concerned. With her approval you have briefed her night time ambassador and made sure that the ambassador and Sam have met.
The school teacher has suggested that James would be best supported if he has a mentor allocated to him which you have managed to arrange.
At one of the evening discos during the summer school Sam tells you
that James has been taking photos of her and shining a torch into her
eyes throughout the evening. She tells you there have been other incidents
during the summer school but she has not wanted to make a fuss.
What are the issues?
How should you deal with the situation?
Tom
Tom has ADHD but you only found this out when his parents returned the medical form the week before the summer school started. You phone his mother who said that he is on medication and this helps regulate his behaviour.
After a couple of days at summer school Tom’s behaviour is loud and disruptive to a point staff consider that he could be out of control. A summer school ambassador is asked to talk to him about it.
The talk goes well and Tom admits he has not been talking his medication because he wanted to be normal, and not different from everyone else.
Be aware that during the summer school Tom is participating in a visit to an employer.
What are the issues?
How should you deal with the situation?
Vicky
Vicky’s application form states that she is allergic to latex and can go into anaphylactic shock. You have phoned Vicky’s mum to find out what this means.
Vicky’s severe latex allergy means that contact with latex causes a shock reaction which can result in her stopping breathing within a matter of minutes. She therefore always carries the necessary antidote drug in a form which needs injecting.
She cannot inject herself. Her family members and a couple of her friends know how to do this. Vicky has not needed to use her injection for the last couple of years. The last episode involved contact with latex in the atmosphere following the laying of a new carpet.
Be aware that during the summer school Vicky will be participating in activities at an outdoor pursuits centre including an assault course and canoeing.
What are the issues?
How should you deal with the situation?
Claire
Claire’s application form states she has ME (also known as Chronic fatigue syndrome).
You have phoned her parents and found out that she has a wheelchair which she uses to help her move around school because of muscle weakness. She tires easily but she does not use the wheelchair all the time.
Claire’s parents have told you that she must have a special diet. She east only lamb beef or chicken and has one of these for every meal including breakfast. She also has to have organic vegetables or salad.
Be aware that during the summer school Claire will be taking part in a social event such as orienteering or bowling.
What are the issues?
How should you deal with the situation?
Adele
Adele’s application form states she has hearing loss. Her teacher confirms her hearing impairment. The form says Adele can lip read, and as long as she is looking at someone and is made aware of who is speaking she has few difficulties at school. She uses a hearing aid which helps her hear some sound.
Adele’s mum has signed and returned all the relevant parental consent forms, permissions and medical forms to the regional summer school office. Her mum has accepted the invitation to the end of summer school Award Ceremony.
You have tried to contact Adele’s mother to talk about the support she might require on summer school but your calls have not been returned.
A few days before the start of the summer school you receive an email from Adele’s mum. She tells you that both she and Adele are hearing impaired and cannot use the phone. The best way to communicate is by email or text. Both Adele and her mum find using an induction loop system helpful.
Be aware that during the summer school Adele will need to undertake collaborative work and prepare for a group presentation.
What are the issues?
How should you deal with the situation?
