Disability Law Service - DDA case from myself as Deaf student

Disability Law Service Press Release for DDA claim

News Release

For Immediate Release

Deaf Student Lodges Disability Discrimination Claim Against the
London Metropolitan University

Since 1st September 2003, colleges of Further & Higher Education have
been obliged by the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) to
supply auxiliary aids and services to disabled students.

John Savva is profoundly deaf. He started his postgraduate degree
course in Sept 2005 with the help of a Disabled Students Allowance.
He was assessed as needing British Sign Language interpreters at
lectures and for group work, and a note-taker at all course related
sessions. It was estimated that the standard Allowance would not
be adequate by some £10,000, to pay for all his learning support
needs.

The Disability Rights Commission's Code of Practice for providers of
post 16 Education envisages "instances when disabled students might
need reasonable adjustments to be provided by the institution in
addition to those resourced through their disabled students'
allowances".

The University's approach was to offer him a maximum, and
insufficient, amount of £3,500 per year which they obtained through
the Access to Learning Fund. This figure did not take into account
his individual needs.

Mr Savva struggled to keep up with his studies, only half of his
lectures were interpreted and he was provided with no notetakers.
He may have to give up his course if he cannot get sufficient support
to meet his needs.

Jocelyn Murphy of the Disability Law Service who is representing John
Savva says –

"To my knowledge this is the first case to make use of the auxiliary
services provision in the DDA and highlights the barriers deaf
students have to undertaking and completing higher education courses".


For further information contact:

Jocelyn Murphy
Head of Legal Services,
Disability Law Service
020 7791 9821, joce@dls.org.uk

Notes

The Disability Law Service (DLS) is a unique service run by
and for disabled people.

DLS provides free impartial legal advice and a casework
service to disabled people, their families and carers, and has since
its inception in 1975.

The Disability Law Service employs a staff of trained
solicitors and legal advisors who work with disabled people
throughout the legal process, and can represent at all court levels.

A Legal Services Commission contract holder, the Disability
Law Service specialises in areas of social and welfare law; community
care; consumer / contract; employment; further and higher education;
welfare benefits and disability discrimination.

Disabled people represent about 25% of the population.

Disabled people are twice as likely as non-disabled people to
have no or lower qualifications.

In 2004/5, 641,000 learners undertaking Learning and Skills
Council further and higher education and training said that they had
a disability; they represent about 10 per cent of all learners.

Ends



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