DIVERSASIA - Best practices

In 2012 after a review of Disability Support Services, the University of Brighton took the decision to invest in an additional manager to the Disability Support Services Manager (who holds operational responsibility for the team and in setting up support for disabled students). The newly appointed Inclusive Practice Manager (IPM) sits outside of the Disability Team, working with academics to develop inclusive practice in learning and teaching.

In response to the changes in Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) funding, there has been considerable development in inclusive practice across the university with ongoing training for over 500 academic staff – on an individual, course and school basis.

To ensure inclusive practice is considered at a design and review level – the university will recognize inclusivity in course validation and periodic reviews with support from the IPM. In addition, the IPM contributes to a group currently undertaking a university-wide curriculum review, in which inclusivity is identified as one of its core principles.

In response to requests from academics, the university are developing an online resource/toolkit including a ‘module self-evaluation’ tool for inclusive practice, which should be ready for the start of the 2017/18 academic year.

Whilst these developments are ongoing and in response to the changes to DSA funding, the university has allocated funds to assist students required to pay the £200 contribution for equipment and cover any DSA shortfall, alongside developing inclusive practice across the institution.

Identifying inclusivity at the heart of the various activities the university is going through alongside support from senior management, has been key in raising the profile and recognizing the need for an inclusive curriculum at the University of Brighton.