Disabled Students (Hansard, 5 December 1986)

§ Mr. Alton
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what advice his Department offers colleges for further and higher education in order to widen access to students with disabilities.

§ Mr. Walden
In terms of physical access the DES has issued, and periodically updates, Design Note No. 18 which contains guidance for those responsible for making educational buildings accessible to disabled people. A copy of this has been placed in the Library.
In 1983 the DES commissioned the preparation of a staff development pack for teachers of students with moderate learning difficulties in colleges. This was published in January 1985 under the title "From Coping to Confidence".
A working group is now considering the training support required for the full range of further education staff concerned with special needs students. The group is expected to report early in 1987.

§ Mr. Alton
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many students with disability are currently attending courses at colleges of further and higher education.

§ Mr. Walden
The information is not collected centrally on a routine basis, but a survey of students with special educational needs was commissioned by the Department in 1985. The survey indicated that in November 1985 there were around 30,000 students with special educational needs attending courses at colleges of further and higher education.
841W

§ Mr. Alton
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consideration of the effects of student loans on students with disability his Department has made in its research into student loans schemes.

§ Mr. Walden
The student support review will take account of the situation of disabled students in any consideration it gives to the possibility of introducing a student loans scheme.

§ Mr. Alton
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what special funds are available from his Department for colleges of further and higher education to improve access for students with disabilities.

§ Mr. Walden
Such students will have a wide range of special educational needs and the support that they require will vary accordingly. The Government believe support should generally be made by the maintaining LEA, taking account of the needs of those students whom a college proposes to admit.
However, through the mechanism of education support grant the Government are contributing to the expenditure of up to £0.5 million in each of the financial years 1986–87 and 1987–88 to enable more students with disabilities to participate in mainstream courses in colleges. The grants cover 70 per cent. of approved expenditure on the part of selected LEAs to establish a continuing system of micro-electronic support for students with physical and/or sensory disabilities.