Hi Emily
without wishing to trivialise any of these examples, I believe you will find that the conditions you describe are not actually disabilities - certainly, a broken limb is inconvenient and painful, and immensely limiting, but as I understand it, a broken limb (or several) would be classed as an injury rather than a disability - I refer you to the definition on the DDA website (http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/RightsAndObligations/DisabilityRights/DG_4001069):
"The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) defines a disabled person as someone who has a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his or her ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.
The definition
For the purposes of the Act:
* substantial means neither minor nor trivial
* long term means that the effect of the impairment has lasted or is likely to last for at least 12 months (there are special rules covering recurring or fluctuating conditions)
* normal day-to-day activities include everyday things like eating, washing, walking and going shopping
* a normal day-to-day activity must affect one of the 'capacities' listed in the Act which include mobility, manual dexterity, speech, hearing, seeing and memory
Some conditions, such as a tendency to set fires and hay fever, are specifically excluded."
I hope that this may help to clarify things?
Regards
K
Karen Farmer
DSA Needs Assessor
Professional & Academic Development (PAD)
University of Bedfordshire
Park Square, Luton
LU1 3HZ
Tel: 01582 74 3422
Internal ext: 3422
Fax: 01582 489349
>>> Emily Travels <[log in to unmask]> 28/10/2008 14:50 >>>
Hi All,
How many of you work at institutions which provide some kind of funding and
assistance via disability services for students with temporary
disabilities? These can vary from a broken arm or leg to a health condition
which is expected to resolve in the medium term and not become a permanent
disability.
Do you provide any support - if not, who are these students directed to get
support from?
Is support limited compared to disabled students given that these students
are not covered by the DDA?
Is there a difference between loan of equipment (if available), exam
accommodations and advice vs services which have an actual cost such as
notetakers or transport costs?
Many thanks,
Emily
|