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

All students.

This field is identical to the Student.DISABLE field in the Student record.

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).

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, The Disability Equality Duty.

The additional valid entries for entrants from 2010/11 onwards are 51 to 58.

Codes 51 and 53 are both types of learning disability/difficulty or cognitive impairment.

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