Donald Sloan Oxford Brookes University

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Donald SloanOxford Brookes University

• Hidden Disabilities
• Focus on Mental Health Issues

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• Changes in HE environment
• Resultant pressures on students
• Mental health problems in student population
• Implications of SENDA
• Recommendations

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Psychological disturbance

• A wide range of problems including psychiatric
  illness, behavioural disturbance, and
  psychological and social difficulties, which may
  seriously and adversely affect the ability of
  students with such problems to pursue their
  studies adequately.
• (HUCS, 1999, pp.1)

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Changes in HE environment

• Widening access
• - negative impact on pastoral care
• - ability of new students to cope
• Funding for student support
• - rising debt
• - taking on part-time work

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Mental health problems in student population

• Summary of evidence contained within HUCS (1999)
  Degrees of Disturbance, BAC
• - Rutter and Smith (1995)
• - Association of University and College
  Counsellors
• - Research papers on levels of suicide
• - Results of HEFCE funded projects
• - Individual universities student surveys
• - Annual reports of university counselling
  services

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Issues for HE institutions

• Limits students chances of performing adequately
  in studies
• Can have impact on other members of HE
  institution
• Consequences of behavioural difficulties

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Disclosure

• No unlawful discrimination if you treat students
  less favourably on the basis of their disability
  if you did not know, and could not reasonably
  have know, that they had a disability.
• Universities are required to make anticipatory
  adjustments so as to minimise the potential for
  discrimination against those with disabilities.

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Policies and procedures

• Disability statement
• Admissions policy
• Disclosure policy
• Emergency procedures
• Support and Guidance
• Internal
• External
• Development and training