The Disabled Student Commitment follows the lifecycle of a student across their higher education journey, from entering higher education to moving on to further study or employment.
It clearly indicates that the transition from school or college into higher education needs to become more seamless, that students entering a higher education provider should only have to share their information regarding their disability once and that there should be clarity around the support offered.
The Commitment encourages higher education providers to self-audit, with their students, any gaps in delivery, to action these and make progress that shares expectations with their disabled students.
The Commitment also calls upon sector bodies, regulators and the Government to show the progress they are making with regard to improving support for disabled students.
Calls for step-change in the way disabled students access and experience higher education
The Disabled Student Commitment includes principles on:
- Requests to share information;
- Choosing a course of study;
- Transition into the higher education community;
- On-course experience;
- Moving forward.
The Disabled Student Commitment Members
Current signatories to the Disabled Student Commitment, and how to sign up.
Disabled Student Commitment Governance
Oversight of activity related to the Disabled Student Commitment is boosted by a partnership approach between Advance HE, National Association of Disability Practitioners, London South Bank University and The Open University. Thanks to Hannah Borkin (Associate, Advance HE), Elliott Spaeth (Senior Advisor, Advance HE), Professor Deborah Johnston (Pro-Vice-Chancellor) (Academic Framework) London South Bank University), Alice Speller (CEO, NADP) and Professor Ian Pickup (Pro Vice-Chancellor (Students) The Open University) for their continued work and coordination.
Professor Deborah Johnston
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic Framework)
,
London South Bank University
Membership of the Advisory Group and Partnership Group are outlined below:
Disabled Student Commitment Advisory Group Members
The Advisory Group contains colleagues from sector agencies that are directly named in the Commitment, or who work on behalf of a relevant representative body or higher education provider. The group meets quarterly.
- David Bass, Director of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Advance HE
- Suzanne Carrie, Head of Equality of Opportunity, Office for Students
- Professor Amanda Coffey, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of the West of England Bristol
- Keren Coney, Research and Knowledge Director, AGCAS
- Rowan Fisher, Head of Student Experience and Skills Policy, Universities UK
- Anthony Hill, Service Owner, Student Loans Company
- David Holloway, Senior Policy Manager (SEND), Association of Colleges
- Professor Geoff Layer, Vice Chancellor’s Special Envoy, University of Coventry and University Sector Disability Access Ambassador, Disability Unit
- Diane Lightfoot, CEO, Business Disability Forum
- Ian Milton, Policy Advisor, Department for Work and Pensions
- Carmel Jewell-Newby, Director of Higher Education, London South East Colleges
- Dr Arti Saraswat, Senior Policy Manager (HE), Association of Colleges
- Adam Treslove, Head of Corporate Affairs, Student Loans Company
- Ian Turley, Senior Policy Adviser, Department for Education
- Caroline Turnbull, Quality Enhancement and Engagement Manager, QAA
- Nicola Turner, Senior Fair Access Adviser, UCAS
- Piers Wilkinson, Senior Policy and Campaigns Lead, Diversity and Ability
Disabled Student Commitment Partnership Group Members
The Partnership Group contains a wider pool of colleagues from sector agencies and higher education providers that carry out relevant and important work to support disabled students in higher education. The group meets quarterly.
- Shamima Akhtar, Policy and Research Manager (Assistive and Accessible Technology), Policy Connect
- Mette Anwar-Westander, CEO, Disabled Students UK
- Harriet Cannon, Disability Advisory Team Manager, The University of Leeds
- Professor Sarah Greer, Vice-Chancellor, The University of Winchester
- John Harding, Head of the Disability Resource Centre, The University of Cambridge
- Hamied Haroon, Chair, National Association of Disabled Staff Networks
- Patrick Johnson, Pro Vice-Chancellor Diversity, Inclusion & Students, The University of Law
- Dr Helen Lawson, Research Programmes Manager, TASO
- Kamran Mallick, CEO, Disability Rights UK
- Hugh Mannerings, Business Development Manager, UK Advising and Tutoring
- Lucy Merritt, Education Policy Manager, Thomas Pocklington Trust
- Kellie Mote, Subject Specialist (Accessibility) Jisc
- Amy Norton, Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, London School of Economics
- Jo Nuckley, Head of Outreach and Insight, OIA
- Helen Saelensminde, Chief Executive, Snowdon Trust
- Jenny Shaw, Higher Education External Engagement Manager, Unite
- Jenny Smith, Policy Manager, Student Minds
- Dr Iliyan Stefanov, Director of Student Services, London South Bank University
- Sarah Sweeney, Executive Committee Member, AMOSSHE
- Carol Thomas, EDI Lead, College and University Business Officers
- Dr Kate Wicklow, Policy Director, GuildHE
Disabled Students’ Commission (2020-2023)
The Disabled Student Commitment was consulted on and authored by the Disabled Students’ Commission. The Disabled Students’ Commission was an independent and strategic group established by the Universities Minister in July 2019 with funding from the Office for Students. It had a key responsibility to advise, inform and influence higher education providers to improve support for disabled students.