Reasonable Adjustments

The university must take reasonable steps to ensure that disabled students can fully participate in the education and services provided. The reasonable adjustments duty helps universities to take steps to avoid as far as possible “by reasonable means” the disadvantage which a disabled student experiences as a result of their disability.

Reasonable Adjustments are a legal obligation.

The steps to be taken require three key areas of action:

• Amending unjustified practices, rules, policies, requirements or conditions which have a harsh or adverse impact on access to the service by disabled students. • Providing auxiliary aids and services (e.g. induction loops/information on tapes etc) where this is reasonable and achievable. • Removing or altering physical barriers, or providing alternative means of access.

Examples of both anticipatory adjustments for all disabled students and specific individual adjustments can be reviewed in the Equality Challenge Unit (ECU) guidance on managing reasonable adjustments in higher education (pages 4 - 5).

See also guidance from ADSHE on reasonable adjustments for students with Specific Learning Differences and University of Exeter’s Dyslexia Marking Guidelines. Disability Rights UK has an excellent leaflet on Adjustments for Disabled Students.