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 Disability.DISABILITY 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.

Providers are expected to collect this information from students annually.

Code 95 'No known impairment, health condition or learning difference' should be returned when the student indicates that they do not have a disability. Where data is requested but not obtained for students code 99 should be used rather than 95.

Valid entry 99 'Not Available' should be used when the provider does not know the information e.g. the student did not respond to the request for information.

Valid entry 98 'Prefer not to say' should be returned when a student has explicitly refused to provide the information.

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, Equality Act 2010 Guidance.

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.

Codes 58-96 are used to indicate that the student has a known disability. Providers can return up to 9 valid entries where a student has indicated more than one known disability.

Advance HE 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 that has substantial and long-term impact on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities?