Equality Access Statement & Accessibility in Darwin accommodation
Darwin College offers, allocates, and charges accommodation in a fair and transparent manner. In accordance with the legally protected characteristics, no person or group of persons is treated less favourably than any other person or group of persons. All procedures for the allocation of our accommodation comply with the relevant legislation, particularly the Equality Act 2010.
The Equality Act (2010) prevents higher education institutions from discriminating against disabled students based on the following: ‘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’.
The Equality Act also imposes a duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled students in relation to a provision, criterion or practice, physical features, and auxiliary aids, where the provision of these adjustments overcomes a disadvantage arising from the impact of their disability.
Darwin College assists disabled students to access and utilise all areas of the College wherever possible and practicable. Darwin does not charge for any additional costs related to such disability adjustments or provision. The College has a legal duty to make reasonable adjustments so that disabled students are not put at a substantial disadvantage in accessing education.
Darwin’s college-owned student accommodation is accredited by an external organisation (ANUK) and its Code of Standards for student accommodation. The Code establishes a set of management standards for all residential developments managed and controlled by educational establishments (except for head leased properties) and specifies appropriate controls to ensure that the particular needs of students are delivered effectively.
The Code states:
2.0. The educational establishment will develop an equality access statement, or equivalent, in respect of their managed and controlled accommodation;
2.1. All procedures for the allocation of accommodation comply with any equality and inclusion policies that apply to their educational establishment and in accordance with the law, in particular the provisions of the Equality Act 2010;
2.2. The educational establishment will ensure that no person or group of persons applying for accommodation will be treated less favourably than any other person or group of persons in accordance with the legally protected characteristics;
2.3. Charges for rooms adapted for use by disabled students do not exceed the ordinary average room rate charged by the educational establishment across its full range of rents;
2.4. An assessment is carried out, if appropriate, to determine the specific needs of the individuals concerned and where these needs are reasonable, as defined within the Equality Act 2010, they are fulfilled in accordance with clauses 2.0, 2.1, 2.2 & 2.3. Educational establishments will comply with legal requirements to make reasonable adaptions.
The Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA) uses the following questions to determine reasonableness, which may also be of use:
- Is the student disabled?
- If so, what provisions (for example, policies and procedures) are we now applying to him or her?
- Do these provisions place him or her at a disadvantage?
- What could be done to prevent that disadvantage?
- Would it be reasonable for us to take those steps?
Further information on the ADRC and their role at the University can be found here
Further information on accessible rooms and emotional support animals (ESAs) can be found here and here
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