This is an area that I am also very interested in. I agree that we don’t require any other student to prove they are fit to study (apart from on a health related course), so why should this student be required to do so? Also, it would be difficult for a health professional to give an indication that the previous disability would not return. This may be especially so for eating disorder, but is also true for many other health condtions, i.e. a student who self harms as a means to manage their mental health need, may take time off for ill health, as a  result of mental health need. If that student was required to “prove” that they were fit to return to study i.e. in this case, that they would not self harm again, then this would obviously be impossible for a health professional to guarantee. They might be able to make a good guess, but is this really rigorous enough? The same could be said for a student with diabetes, who might become ill again.

 

It should also be noted that we can’t refuse a student education because they refuse medical assessment or treatment (unless perhaps on a health related course), this is enshrined in law.

 

The question has to be, does the LEA require ALL students who have been absent due to illness to provide medical evidence that they are fit to return to study, or is it just for students that have a mental health associated disability?

 

Imogen

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of No Name
Sent: 26 April 2005 14:10
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: fit to study?

 

A student interrupted their studies for 18 months due to ill health (beginning with an emergency admission for anorexia) but is now applying to return.

In response to her funding application the LEA have requested

“a letter from your doctor confirming that you are in good health and fit to study”

 

Now this presents a problem I fear.

We shouldn’t’ be placing any additional requirements on disabled students that we do not press on other students, and in any case, we don’t require any other student disabled or not to produce evidence that they are fit to study.

But on the other hand, I can see an argument that if this student had to stop their studies for medical reasons, it is important that these have been resolved before restarting studies, otherwise nothing has been resolved by the interruption.

 

What experience have others had?

 

 

Alice Pennington

Disabilities Officer

Roehampton University

 

Tel: 020 8392 3113 ext. 4088

Email: [log in to unmask]

 

www.roehampton.ac.uk/disabilities