Are there resources for students with disabilities?
As a result of the 1995 Disability Discrimination Act, all higher education institutions in the UK must produce and publish disability statements, detailing their policies and provisions for disabled students. In the UK, a disability is defined as “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.” “Physical and mental impairment” is held to cover: • impairments such as restricted mobility, sight or hearing • clinically recognized mental illness, such as manic/clinical depression • severe disfigurement • progressive conditions that hinder the exercise of normal day-to-day activities, such as cancer, multiple sclerosis or muscular dystrophy • an impairment which is controlled or corrected by medication • a past disability that meets the definition of disability Conditions of disability not covered by the Act include: • HIV status where no AIDS-related symptoms have developed • alcohol or dru
