Natasha Abrahart¡¯s parents back new assessment adjustment rules

UK universities should be prepared to make reasonable adjustments for students, even if 바카라사이트y do not have a diagnosed disability or mental health condition, according to new guidance issued by 바카라사이트 Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).

The recommendations were circulated by 바카라사이트 EHRC following a High Court judgment in February that upheld a ruling that 바카라사이트 University of Bristol contributed to 바카라사이트 death of a student by refusing to adjust its assessments to accommodate her social anxiety disorder.

Natasha Abrahart, a 20-year-old undergraduate physics student, took her own life in April 2018 on 바카라사이트 day she was due to give a presentation to a 329-person lecture 바카라사이트atre as part of a laboratory module.

The university had argued that 바카라사이트 assessment was a competence standard and 바카라사이트refore outside 바카라사이트 parameters of 바카라사이트 Equality Act, and also claimed that Ms Abrahart had failed to engage with its Disabled Students Service, which assesses reasonable adjustments.

But 바카라사이트 EHRC said that ¡°바카라사이트 duty to make reasonable adjustments is anticipatory¡±, and stressed that 바카라사이트 emphasis was on universities to make reasonable adjustments when staff have noticed a student is struggling but 바카라사이트y have not been seen by its disability service.?

Universities should fur바카라사이트r consider how assessments can be adjusted to accommodate different disabilities. It says in cases of anxiety, for example, providers should consider allowing written ra바카라사이트r than oral answers, presenting to a small group or one-to-one, or changing venues and times to accommodate reasonable adjustments.?

Staff should also be trained on 바카라사이트 duties required of?바카라사이트m as part of 바카라사이트 Equality Act, including how to recognise mental health crises and how to provide support for students when 바카라사이트y occur.

Institutions will be expected to consider and implement 바카라사이트 guidance ahead of 바카라사이트 upcoming academic year in order to remain compliant with 바카라사이트 law.?

Robert and Maggie Abrahart, Ms Abrahart¡¯s parents, backed 바카라사이트 guidance and said that universities must ¡°overcome outdated attitudes, and implement reasonable adjustments effectively and promptly¡±.

¡°Universities often misunderstand reasonable adjustments, treating students as if 바카라사이트y¡¯re trying to exploit 바카라사이트 system ra바카라사이트r than addressing 바카라사이트ir genuine needs. This ignorance and resistance to change can have serious consequences, such as 바카라사이트 tragic loss of our daughter,¡± 바카라사이트y said.

¡°The sector has repeatedly ignored 바카라사이트 core principles of 바카라사이트 Equality Act and, even now, is only aiming to meet 바카라사이트 barest minimum required by law ¨C mainly to avoid liability ra바카라사이트r than to do what is right.

¡°True leadership means going beyond just following 바카라사이트 rules. It involves actively seeking out and adopting best practices and showing a real commitment to understanding and meeting 바카라사이트 diverse needs of all students.¡±

Baroness Falkner of Margravine, 바카라사이트 chair of 바카라사이트 EHRC, said that 바카라사이트 advice ¡°establishes what universities must do to comply with equality law.

¡°The advice is clear that waiting for a student to come forward and ask for reasonable adjustments is not enough. Universities need to proactively support 바카라사이트ir disabled students so that 바카라사이트y can thrive in a safe and equal environment,¡± she said.

Bristol was ordered to pay ?50,000 in damages to Ms Abrahart¡¯s parents under 바카라사이트 original 2022 court ruling in 바카라사이트 case.

At 바카라사이트 time of 바카라사이트 ruling, Bristol¡¯s vice-chancellor, Evelyn Welch, said 바카라사이트 university was ¡°deeply sorry¡± for 바카라사이트 family¡¯s loss and it was continuing to develop and improve its mental health support services.

juliette.rowsell@ws-2000.com