Diversity and Equality in Health and Care, 9(2), 2012, pp.151-155.
Publisher:
Insight Medical Publishing
...of the responsibilities that higher education providers have towards students affected by these types of differences. The disabilities covered are; dyslexia; Asperger’s syndrome, autism, mental health difficulties, dyscalculia, dyspraxia; and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
The last decade has seen a growing emphasis on addressing disability in main stream society through legislation to improve access to everyday living and working environments. This has resulted in a significant increase in the number of disabled students undertaking health and social care programmes at higher education institutions in the UK. Some disabilities are highly noticeable and easy to identify. Hidden disabilities such as intellectual impairment, Asperger’s syndrome and dyslexia are more difficult to recognise. This can lead to misinterpretations and misunderstandings when expectations are not met resulting in people with hidden disabilities, being ignored, excluded, or even becoming the target of hostility. This paper aims to explain some of these hidden disabilities and some of the responsibilities that higher education providers have towards students affected by these types of differences. The disabilities covered are; dyslexia; Asperger’s syndrome, autism, mental health difficulties, dyscalculia, dyspraxia; and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.