This field records the type of disability that a student has, on the basis of the student's own self-assessment.

Compulsory for all students on designated courses or where designation is held at provider level. Not permitted for students on non-designated courses.

With the introduction of the Disability Equality Duty, and on the recommendation of the Equality Challenge Unit (ECU), HESA has introduced a version of the coding frame introduced by the Disability Rights Commission (DRC).

This information will be available from UCAS via the *J transaction. Disability is recorded on the basis of the student's own self-assessment.

Only serious visual impairments are covered by the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA). For example, a person whose eyesight can be corrected through the use of prescription lenses is not covered by the DDA; neither is a simple inability to distinguish between red and green.

The same logic does not apply to hearing aids. If someone needs to wear a hearing aid, then they are likely to be covered by the DDA. However, both hearing and visual impairments have to have a substantial adverse effect on the ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities in order for a person to be covered by the DDA. For more information see the Secretary of State's Revised Guidance on the definition of disability.

If this field is coded 08-96 indicating that the student has a disability, then InstancePeriod.DISALL should be coded 4, 5 or 9.

To permit disability-based analysis; for monitoring levels and trends in participation by particular groups of people; to monitor take-up of Disabled Students' Allowance as Disabled Students' Allowance is now not means tested; to permit analysis based on type of disability.