heriot-watt university disability equality scheme 2006 -2009

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ii. Social Context 1.7 The aim of this Disability Equality Scheme is to facilitate the removal of barriers for all disabled people. This includes people who might not automatically identify themselves as disabled people, but who nevertheless face discrimination or barriers in their everyday life because of their impairment. 1.8 Heriot-Watt University subscribes to the social model of disability which is defined as: “the recognition that primarily it is the loss or limitation of opportunities, due to environmental and social barriers, that prevents people who have impairments from participating in society on an equal level with others.” 1.9 Unlike the medical model which places responsibility for inability to participate on the individual’s impairment, the social model explains discrimination against disabled people as a result of environmental design, social organisation and practices and attitudinal barriers. Disability is caused by the society in which we live and is not the ‘fault’ of an individual disabled person, or an inevitable consequence of their limitations. The removal of discrimination requires a change of approach and thinking in the way in which society is organised. 1.10 The social model takes account of disabled people as part of our economic, environmental and cultural society. It has been developed with the aim of removing barriers so that disabled people have the same opportunity as everyone else to determine their own life styles. 1.11 Barriers can be: prejudice and stereotypes inflexible organisational procedures and practices inaccessible information inaccessible buildings and inaccessible transport 1.12 These barriers are unrelated to individual disabled people per se; they are created by society, which means it is possible to remove them. 1.13 This DES seeks to ensure that this social model is applied across our policies and practices. In carrying out the activity outlined in the action plan and through a systematic process of equality impact assessment Heriot-Watt University is demonstrating a commitment to the pursuit of equality in outcome as well as access. This DES lays the ground work 6
for a holistic approach to equality across the University which seeks to eliminate unlawful discrimination and promote equality through recognition of the value of diverse populations. iii. Organisational Context 1.14 Student populations at Heriot-Watt University The profile of Heriot-Watt University is distinctive. With an annual turnover approaching £100 million, our 7,000 campus-based students place us as a medium-sized UK university although we are actually among the smaller institutions. Behind these broad parameters are many features of a strongly focused profile and performance. Firstly, the University displays a markedly specialised subject profile: Figure 1: % students by subject area – Heriot-Watt on-campus student numbers compared with UK HE student numbers 20 15 10 5 0 Combined Business Med-allied Education Soc Scis Eng & Tech Computer Sci Art & Des Languages Bio Scis Physical Scis Humanities Law Medicine Built Env Maths UK HWU 3 Others Source: Heriot-Watt University Strategic Plan 2005 1.15 The Scottish market Students from Scotland currently account for just over half of the University’s on-campus total (at the undergraduate level, it is about two thirds). Heriot-Watt represents just over 4% (less than one twentieth) of Scottish HE provision. However, by virtue of its focus, Heriot-Watt provides a critical mass of 15-20% of the Scottish system in Engineering & Technology, Mathematics and Built Environment. Business and Management Education is also a relatively large presence among the pre-1992 research-based universities. The University’s provision is strongly characterised by its high academic level, oriented towards 4-5 year honours degree programmes and, increasingly, the postgraduate level. Notwithstanding this relatively demanding profile, Heriot-Watt demonstrates a strongly inclusive wider access and participation profile. 1.16 Internationalisation In terms of the proportion of international students present on campus, Heriot-Watt presents one of the strongest profiles in the UK and the strongest in Scotland. More than one in four of our students are from 7
Page 1 and 2: HERIOT-WATT UNIVERSITY DISABILITY E
Page 3 and 4: Foreword At Heriot-Watt University,
Page 5: Outline of DES processes March 2006
Page 9 and 10: 1.21 Heriot-Watt University’s Mis
Page 11 and 12: job or course. The University recog
Page 13 and 14: Table 1.1: Adults with a disability
Page 15 and 16: students who have disclosed a disab
Page 17 and 18: have glass rear walls, thus allowin
Page 19 and 20: 3. Impact Assessment 3.1 ‘The Dut
Page 21 and 22: 4. Information Gathering and Challe
Page 23 and 24: 4.12 Conflicting Priorities. In the
Page 25 and 26: In meeting the above, the Universit
Page 27 and 28: Appendix iii Heriot-Watt University
Page 29 and 30: Appendix iv Monitoring and Reportin
Page 31 and 32: DRC Check List for Higher Education
Page 33 and 34: Appendix V: Heriot-Watt University
Page 35 and 36: 1. Ensure that teaching staff are s
Page 37 and 38: 2. Ensure accessibility of Heriot-W
Page 47 and 48: 3. Ensure that web-based technology
Page 49 and 50: 4. Promoting flexible access and en
Page 51: 5. Promoting a supportive working a

heriot-watt university disability equality scheme 2006 -2009

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