Over the past decade the number of students with disabilities at Skidmore College has increased, especially in the area of students with learning disabilities.  To date, approximately 8% of the total student body has disclosed a disability - a number consistent with what other private liberal arts colleges are reporting.  This national trend is projected to continue as students with learning disabilities come well prepared to meet the selective admission criteria at competitive colleges and universities.

The focus of this project was a comparison study of the programs for students with learning disabilities at a pre-selected group of colleges in London.  The institutions that were selected each had a unique student population, this assured more than one opinion or service delivery system.  The timing of this project could not have been better scheduled due to the new legislation that has recently been passed in the U.K.  Specifically, the Disability Discriminatory Act of 1995 has been extended to higher education beginning in September 2003.  The legislation mirrors the ADA Laws that govern higher education in the U.S.  During my site visits it was clear that all the institutions were in the process of adjusting to the new laws.  The service providers were feeling pressure to have policies and procedures in writing prior to September 2003 as they are anticipating increased numbers of students with learning disabilities accessing higher education.  The most recent statistic cites 31,000 students with disabilities are currently enrolled in higher education programs in the U.K.; this translates to 4.1% of the total enrolled population.

A universal set of questions was sent to each Disability Office prior to the scheduled meeting.  Having gathered much of the information in survey form, the site visits were more focused on gathering information about attitudes of faculty and administrators as well as what the challenges might be for a student from the U.S. studying at the various institutions. 

Regarding providing services to students with disabilities, all the sites visited shared a common format.  This format is also consistent with many of the Disability Offices serving students in post-secondary institutions in the U.S.  The offices are staffed with one full-time and a part-time professional who collect documentation, assist students with examination boards (more on this later) and make referrals when necessary.  A unique feature of support for students with disabilities in higher education is the Disability Student Allowance.  The DSA was established to provide students with the technology or assistive support they may require.  Each student is individually evaluated and provided a stipend to purchase any technology or support deemed essential.  Since each student arrives at the university with the equipment and appropriate training, the service providers are confident every enrolled student begins on a level playing field.  One of the major concerns expressed by many service providers is that, historically, assistance was adjusted ad hoc - the new laws now mandate adjustments for all qualified students.  The government does not make DSA available for international students, however University College of London and Kings College have money in their budgets for international students who may require additional testing or adaptive technology.  International students should not, however, count on this as their sole means of support.

Guidelines for documentation and issues of confidentiality in the U.K. are similar to those in the U.S.  A three-year current educational evaluation is required for any student seeking academic adjustments.  University College London has gone so far as to offer free educational testing to any enrolled student.  This practice helps the college maintain universal guidelines for documentation and assures all students receive quality and equitable evaluations and support.  The other colleges did not offer such extensive services, but make referrals for those lacking adequate documentation.

The previously mentioned Examination Board is another unique feature of the U.K.  Any student who wishes to receive adjustments during exams must also provide documentation and petition the Examination Board.  Essentially, all exams administered at the colleges and universities are done so by a board.  Documentation and a thorough rationale for any adjustment must be made directly to the Examination Board.  Disability Service providers help all students navigate through this process.  The board has very strict guidelines and has often turned down student requests if they are not made in a timely fashion or lack sufficient evidence.

The following contains specific information about each institution.

Boston University
43 Harrington Gardens
London SW7 4JU
(44) 0 207-244 6255
www.bu-london.co.uk

C.Ranald Macdonld
Director of British Programmes
Fellow of the University
Professors Program

This program is renowned for internship experiences (the British term is “placement”).  Students with learning disabilities must inform the Director and provide appropriate documentation.  All students who are studying at Boston University in London as an abroad experience must also provide support from their home institution. 

At present, there is no formal Office of Disability Service.  There has been some discussion of the appointment of a current member of the staff to be named Disability Officer with responsibility for the coordination and development of Boston University’s overall disability strategy.

Students who qualify for academic adjustments can expect:

• Extended time on exams
• Distraction-free test location
• Note-takers
• Use of a laptop in class although many of the classrooms are not wired for computers.  Students must have a battery source
• Students may tape lectures for personal use
• Use of a calculator
• Advance copies of syllabi are available upon request.

Housing is a challenge for Boston University in London.  The university owns buildings throughout the city of London; many are located several miles from the classrooms.  For students who might normally receive a single dorm assignment- ADD/ADHD for example, this may not be the case here.  Housing is tight and students should not expect to necessarily live close to the classroom or in a single.  The university however has made great strides to accommodate physical needs by reserving dorms on the first floor and adding ramps to many entrances.

One area of concern is the number of students with documented psychiatric disabilities who are accessing the program. The increase is so remarkable that a clinical psychologist addresses the issue at orientation.  The tendency for students to stop taking medication is so great and the resources in London can be limited for abroad students.  The staff I spoke with caution families who believe their son/daughter may be vulnerable to a disruption in mental health services to be as informed as possible about the reality of services in London.

University College London
3 Taviton Street
London
020-7679 1343
disability@uc.ac.uk

Marion Hingston Lamb
Disability Coordinator

UCL is one of London’s most prestigious universities with a very competitive admissions process.  The college offers many professional programs including medicine.  Students with learning disabilities are represented throughout the programs and faculty has willingly made adjustments to accommodate students. 

UCL is unique as the Disabilities Coordinator works in concert with a Dyslexia Coordinator who does all the educational assessments.  This practice was established to ease the hurdle of the Examination Board.  The service providers spent a great deal of time assisting students who arrived with documentation that would not satisfy the Examination Board’s criteria for accommodations.  By shifting their energies to assessment, all students who qualify for examination accommodation are able to meet the Board’s criteria.  Students with learning disabilities who study at UCL must provide the Disabilities Coordinator a current and complete neuropsychological evaluation in advance to assure it meets their criteria.  The Dyslexia Coordinator can assess international students on a limited basis.

UCL has an extensive computing center complete with the most updated versions of Text Help, Jaws 4, Inspiration, Kurweil 3000, Duxbury Braille, Dragon Speaking, Via Voice and Winbraille.   Students who utilize assistive technology are trained during their DSA evaluation prior to attending UCL although the staff is knowledgeable about the software and can provide assistance as needed.  Additional accommodations include:

• Note-takers
• Use of calculators
• Use of a laptop in class
• Distraction-free test location
• Advance copies of course syllabi
• FM systems for the hearing impaired - this is typically provided by a students’ DSA account but the university will provide for international students.

Housing presents a major challenge at UCL and only a small percentage of students are assigned university housing each year.  Because of the university’s urban setting the dorms are scattered throughout the city of London.  Priority housing is reserved for first-year students and international students where space is available.  Students should not expect to be housed in a single; all students have at least one roommate.  Many students with ADD/ADHD may find this a challenge, as they may be accustomed to a single dorm setting in the U.S. 

Regent’s College
Inner Circle
Regent’s Park
London NWI 4NS UK
44(0) 20 7487 7501

David Morgan
Academic Dean
morgand@regents.ac.uk

 
Regent’s College is located in Regent’s Park, which is also the home of The London Zoo.  The College enjoys a more “campus” setting than some of the other colleges that are located in more urban locations.  The College has made some concessions to accommodate physical disabilities by reserving ground-floor rooms for those who are in need, however single rooms cannot be granted for students with ADD/ADHD diagnosis.

There is no Disabilities Office per se but David Morgan, Academic Dean, handles all requests for accommodations. International students studying at Regent’s College should have the disabilities coordinator at the home university send confirmation directly to the Academic Dean. The Dean will notify faculty about any classroom adjustment.   

Students attending Regent’s College should be aware there are no support services available beyond the classroom.  Regent’s College does not have any computerized assistance; students must be prepared to bring any assistive technology that will be necessary.  Students should also keep in mind that Regent’s College also has an examination board that must approve any accommodations during exams.  Students should have a copy of their documentation on hand for the board.

King’s College
57 Waterloo Road
London SE1 8WA
020 7848 3027
Emma Price, Disability Support Officer
Celia Cockburn, Disability Coordinator
eo@kcl.ac.uk

King’s College is a prestigious university with three campuses located around the city of London.  The College is made up of 10 schools with each having a Disabilities Advisor.   This campus encompasses several city blocks with classrooms and dorms spread throughout the city.  Here again, housing is scarce but international students are given consideration for housing although single dorm rooms would not be available for students except in extreme instances. 

The College boasts a very comprehensive support program for students with disabilities.  The office does extensive outreach to students prior to admissions by sending numerous publications and assisting all prospective students in securing DSA for technology and neuropsychological evaluations.  The support officer and coordinator work closely with students and also provide faculty and administrators training on disability related topics.  The Disabilities Office also assists students with the Exam Committee process to ensure exam accommodations as deemed necessary and appropriate.

Faculty seem to be more engaged with this topic since the new legislation was mandated.  One of the long-term goals is for time management and study skills to be incorporated into the courses where faculty would facilitate the learning process.  This further enhances the relationship with the faculty and affords students the opportunity to sharpen their skills specific to each course. 

King’s College has a well- staffed Counseling Center that works with the Disability Office as well.  Students who require support through counseling are often able to receive services on campus.

International students are not able to take advantage of DSA funds but the college has made considerations for students who either have out-dated information or who suspect a disability to have in-house assessments. 

King’s College offers students access to Texthelp, Supernova, Inspiration, Dragon/Naturally Speaking, as well as laptops that are provided by the office for exam and classroom use.  Tape recorders are not typically used by students and scribes are only utilized in very extreme circumstances.

The information gathered for this project is invaluable to students who are considering a study abroad experience in London.  The guidelines for documentation seem to be universal however the system in which they are implemented can vary between institutions.  Students who are considering colleges and universities abroad should inquire very early on in the admission process about disability accommodations.