To follow up Martin's contribution, as cases of discrimination will be
determined according to the individual circumstances of a case, it would not
be desirable to start thinking in terms of a formula. However, there is
quite a lot of information to help institutions determine decisions,
including the Act itself, the Code and Skill's conference in December. Many
of you know that the wording of the Act itself includes financial resources
as one of the criteria for justifying discrimination. One thing likely to be
important when assessing this is proportionality - the size of the benefit
(how many students will benefit from the adjustment) compared to the size of
the bill? Cheaper intermin adjustments will be acceptable as temporary
measures in some cases.
The new law will be a time of some uncertainty for all. However, I
understand that there are plans afoot (possibly another DRC/Skill
collaboration) at the moment to produce some kind of handbook for
institutions, which might be more practical and 'implementable' than the
Code.
Caroline Lewis
Policy Officer
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Skill: National Bureau for Students with Disabilities
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Main line: 020 7450 0620 (voice/text) Fax: 020 7450 0650
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Promoting equality in education, training and employment for disabled
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> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mary Norowzian [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: 19 November 2001 10:07
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: SENDA & international students
>
> Martin wrote:
>
> > The fact that International Students do not receive DSA is a factor.
> There
> > will be no other support apart from that provided by the institution. It
> > will there be up to the institution to establish what is reasonable.
>
> This raises the vital question for institutions- deciding what is
> reasonable, not just in regard to international students but across
> the board. . Even with the draft Code of Practice it is very difficult to
> see how senior managers are meant to determine 'reasonable'
> particularly with regard to cost, without some guidelines or formula.
> Surely there is the potential for very different interpretations and
> therefore of provision across HEI's? . Do we have to wait for
> testcases ( hoping its someone elses student!) to give us an idea
> or will the final Code be more specific ?
>
> Mary Norowzian
> M.Norowzian
> Disability Coordinator/Counsellor
> Kingston University
> email [log in to unmask]
> 020 8547 7902
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