Disability Equality Vision, Values and Principles

This Disability Equality Scheme sets out the framework within which the College intends to promote equality for and prevent discrimination against our disabled students, staff and visitors. We recognise that the diversity of our students and staff will be one of our greatest strengths. The commitment to delivering our Disability Equality Scheme is embodied in the following principles:

1. Discrimination, direct or indirect, based on a person’s disability is unjust and immoral, representing a waste of human resources and a denial of opportunity for individual self fulfilment.

2. The promotion of excellent practice in disability equality and the promotion of the social model of disability across our functions will be core to our activities.

3. The creation of a culture in which the needs of disabled students and staff are viewed as being of equal importance to those of other students and staff, will form an integral part of our mainstream approach to learning, teaching, and employment.

4. The creation of an inclusive learning environment and the provision of an accessible curriculum will be at the centre of our delivery of disabled student services.

5. The proportion of disabled students and staff should reflect the proportion of disabled people in the community.

6. Staff and students are entitled to dignity and respect in the workplace and learning environment.

7. The commitment and involvement of staff and students is essential to the implementation of our Disability Equality Scheme.

8. We aspire to be a model of best practice in terms of accessibility; everyone should be able to work at or visit the College and its facilities without being unfairly inconvenienced by the shortcomings of the College’s built environment, as far as is practicable.

9. Good practice in disability equality will be expected from external organisations with which the College has partnership arrangements or service contracts.

The College aims to seek to create an inclusive learning environment for students which:

• Anticipates and reflects the diversity of the collective and individual needs of its disabled student community
• Provides a high quality integrated service to disabled students where planning, organisation and the allocation and use of resources are both efficient and focussed on student need
• Enables disabled students to gain maximum educational advantage from the extensive learning opportunities offered by a diverse and rich curriculum, however these are delivered
• Ensures that there is clarity and coherence in all aspects of the learning experience for disabled students
• Enables disabled students to participate as fully as possible in all aspects of college life as independent members of the college community

The College is committed to the creation of a diverse workforce, which more accurately reflects the customers and community we serve. The College aims to create the conditions where members of staff are treated solely on the basis of their merits and to ensure that the College is both open to, and representative of, all sections of the community. It is College policy to ensure that disabled applicants and staff receive fair and equal treatment.

The overarching aim is that all property owned, leased rented or otherwise used by the College is accessible to disabled staff, students and visitors as far as is practicable.
The College is committed to making clear our DES and requirements for the promotion of disability equality where functions that impact on disability equality are carried out through service agreements or partnerships with other organizations.
Detailed objectives and actions to underpin the delivery of these principles and aims are set out in the DES Action Plan.