Dear all
In the past we have always charged students who need 24 hour personal care
support for any extra rooms required by personal assistants when the
student is living on campus. Recently this has been challenged by a Social
Worker working with an applicant. The SW argues that it would be a
reasonable adjustment for the University to foot the cost of the Personal
Assistant's accommodation as the student is incurring this cost through
having to study at the University. We however have always argued that the
student who needs 24 hr support would need a room for a personal assistant
off campus as well and therefore would need to incurr this cost (they would
incur the cost if staying in a hotel or private accommodation.
We think this challenge may go further so I wanted to check what other
institutions are doing about this. Does any institution accept this charge
and not pass it on to the student?
Our existing students seem to fund the extra room from a variety of
sources. Does anyone know of a definitive funding source for this cost?
Any advice/sharing experience welcome.
Steve O'Melia
Disability Co-ordinator
University of Chichester
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