§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what action she is taking to improve access for disabled students to overseas courses, with particular reference to(a) physical access problems and (b) access to disability specific benefits. [61345]
§ Margaret HodgeThe Special Educational Needs and Disability Act (SENDA) 2001 makes it unlawful, from September 2002, for providers of post-16 education in Great Britain to discriminate against disabled people. As part of their new statutory duties, institutions will be responsible for ensuring that any overseas institution 17W which receives a disabled student as part of their course at a British institution is able to provide reasonable access in accordance with the requirements of the Act.
Higher Education students eligible for the Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) who have to study abroad as part of their course at a UK institution are entitled to continue to receive the DSA while they are abroad. The disability living allowance (DLA) is payable to people resident in Great Britain. However, payment can continue during the first 26 weeks of any period of temporary absence, so students who return during vacations may receive continuous payments.