The Disabled Student Commitment

Disabled Students’ Commission (DSC) was established by the Office for Students (OfS) just before the Covid-19 pandemic struck the UK in early 2020. Since then, the DSC has listened very carefully to the views of disabled students and the many skilled colleagues who support them.

We have used a rigorous process of roundtables, research studies, focus groups, surveys, and discussions. There are many committed staff who support disabled students and many examples of innovative practice across the sector but unfortunately, typically there is not a holistic approach across the institution led by a senior leader as a driver of change. Since our inception, we have looked at the evidence presented to us and clearly taken the view that whilst disabled students do remarkably well, too often it is against the odds. The sector needs to make a quantum shift in the way it supports this group of students.

Consequently, we have developed this Disabled Student Commitment, and it is a call to the sector and its bodies to make the step change that is required to create a more inclusive environment.

The Commitment calls on Higher Education Providers (HEPs), Government, funders, agencies, regulators, and professional, statutory and regulatory bodies to look at what they currently do, what innovative practices they can share, and how they can change.

The Commitment does not seek to replicate or replace legal duties but asks organisations to do more by focusing on how they can improve the disabled student experience. The Commitment encourages HEPs and other organisations to look holistically at their practices and policies, which influence their fulfillment of the Commitment in consultation with disabled students. Secondly, HEPs and other organisations are encouraged to outline how they intend to enhance experiences.

Finally, please note that the DSC will create a student-facing version of the Commitment as part of its launch in early 2023. This version will be finalised based on responses from our consultation and will mirror the existing principles.