Dear Ron and list
See below for responses
| Dear List --
|
| I have a former student who is applying to graduate school at several
| British Universities. Each application asks the direct question: "Do you
| have a disability" and then gives a list of disabilities.
|
| The student is accustomed to the U. S. (of course) where it is up to the
| individual whether or not they self-identify as disabled. She prefers to
do
| so only after she meets people. She is worried about the implications of
the direct question.
|
| 1) Might outing herself on an entrance form hurt her chances for
acceptance?
This depends. Normally I would say no, but if it were Australia we were
talking about then there would be grounds for suspicion. This is a recent
thing in Oz, but now Universities (from what i understand) are funded only
upon the student's completion of the post graduate course - not on starting.
Funding is reduced if the completion time is extended beyond the nominated
completion time set by the Government funding body e.g 3 years for a
part-time Masters. Therefore, if the student is at risk of extending their
canidacy beyond the funding threshhold, its possible that discrimination
could occur. I was never able to get an assurance from a certain University
that this would not happen.
Disclosure should be protected by privacy laws. The student has the right to
ask and to have in writing, 1) what the information will be used for 2) who
will have access to the information and 3) exactly what information is kept.
If this is not satisfactory then the student should not disclose. The
student will probably find that the question is asked in order to provide
statistics re inclusion to an interested party. I have seen research which
suggests that few people disclose a mental health disorder on application
forms for fear of being excluded on such grounds. I assume it would be the
same for other types of disability.
| 2) If she lies and says "no", might that disqualify her for disability
| services if she is accepted?
|
I would say not. For the same reason a student who aquires a disability
during the course of their study will receive services. If the student is
satisfied with the motive for collecting this information and with the
assurance of confidentiality then hopefully the student will not feeled
compelled to fib.
| 3) If she lies and says "no", might that be grounds for deportation, and
| transportation to Australia or something?
If she does, at least she could be assured under our privacy Act that such
information cannot be passed on to anyone else without that students
expressed consent (in writing). Aussie Aussie Aussie oi! oi! oi!!!
| In case it's relevant, she's considering applying to the University of
| Hartfordshire, the University of York, and St. Andrews.
|
My feeling is that higher education in the UK is probably pretty kosher when
it comes to discrimination. Obviously, UK residents will be more familiar
and can advise better.
BTW, I am no longer a full-time lecturer at the Uni of Sydney. My contract
expired and they could no longer afford me. I am still working there on a
casual basis.
| Thanks for any advice.
|
| Ron
|
|
| Ron Amundson
| University of Hawaii at Hilo
| Hilo, HI 96720
| [log in to unmask]
|
Best regards
Laurence Bathurst
School of Occupation and Leisure Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
University of Sydney
PO Box 170
Lidcombe NSW 1825
Australia
Please use home phone or mobile number
Home Ph: 61 2 9818 2050
Mobile Ph: 0407 069 441
Email: [log in to unmask]
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