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Student Alternative 2019/20 - Disability

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Student Alternative 2019/20

Fields required from institutions in All fields

Disability


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valid entries
Typefield
Short nameDISABLE
Description

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

Applicable toEngland Scotland
Coverage

Compulsory for all students.

Valid entries and labels
CodeLabel
00No known disability
08Two or more impairments and/or disabling medical conditions
51A specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia, dyspraxia or AD(H)D
53A social/communication impairment such as Asperger's syndrome/other autistic spectrum disorder
54A long standing illness or health condition such as cancer, HIV, diabetes, chronic heart disease, or epilepsy
55A mental health condition, such as depression, schizophrenia or anxiety disorder
56A physical impairment or mobility issues, such as difficulty using arms or using a wheelchair or crutches
57Deaf or a serious hearing impairment
58Blind or a serious visual impairment uncorrected by glasses
96A disability, impairment or medical condition that is not listed above
Notes

Providers are expected to reconfirm this information with the student, on at least an annual basis.

Where it is not known whether or not a student has a disability, code 00 'No known disability' should be returned.

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.

Equality Challenge Unit (ECU) suggested question:

Under the Equality Act 2010, a person has a disability 'if they have a physical or mental impairment, and the impairment has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his or her ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities'. 'Substantial' is defined by the Act as 'more than minor or trivial'. An impairment is considered to have a long term effect if:

  • It has lasted for at least 12 months
  • It is likely to last for at least 12 months, or
  • It is likely to last for the rest of the life of the person.

Normal day-to-day activities are not defined in the Act, but in general they are things people do on a regular or daily basis. The definition has a very wide meaning as both work, study and non –work activities are covered e.g. communicating, reading, writing, using a computer as well as washing, walking and getting dressed. 'Normal' means normal for people generally, rather than for a particular individual.

Employment case law has highlighted that work activity does not have to be 'day-to-day' but covers activities that are required to participate in professional life e.g. activities used to select individuals for recruitment and promotion.

Only serious visual impairments are covered by the Equality Act 2010. For example, a person whose eyesight can be corrected through the use of prescription lenses is not covered by the Act; neither is an 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 Act. 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 Act.

Considering the above, do you have an impairment, health condition or learning difference?

Providers are expected to collect this information from students annually.

Quality rules
Quality rules relating to this entity are displayed here.
Reason required 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.
Part of
Field length2
Minimum occurrences1
Maximum occurrences1
Schema components
Element: DISABLE
OwnerHESA
Version1.2
Date modified2020-09-22
Change management notesAdditional guidance added where it is not known whether or not a student has a disability.

Contact Liaison by email or on +44 (0)1242 388 531.