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| Skill Press Release - SLC difficulites |
| Tue, Jan 5, 2010 |
| Skill Press release SLC in danger of breaching duty to disabled students With regard to the well publicised delays in the Student Loans Company (SLC) processing applications for financial support, Skill is concerned that disabled students in particular are receiving an inferior service, which is affecting their studies. In Skill's view this may be a breach of the SLC's Disability Equality Duty under the Disability Discrimination Act. Skill's Chief Executive, Barbara Waters said 'Not being able to get through on the telephone has been even more difficult for disabled students, who have been chasing up their applications for Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSAs). We have also received numerous complaints on our helpline of medical evidence being lost by the SLC and students saying they have been asked to provide another set of evidence. Students may have to pay for this each time'. Skill wants the Government and SLC to assign a case worker to each disabled student, to work with them until their application is completed. Currently SLC staff are signing letters with first name only, and will not take phone calls or reply to emails. Some students have had their medical evidence refused, with SLC staff appearing to lack knowledge and training about disability. Intrusive and inappropriate comments are being made which bring danger of disability discrimination and contribute to the delay. With only 2,500 applications completed and at least 6,000 still unprocessed or pending receipt of medical evidence in mail which hasn’t been processed, many disabled students are now starting HE without their support in place. The danger is this could result in them deciding to defer their studies or drop out altogether. The nature of some students’ disabilities, e.g. dyslexia or mental health issues makes them more vulnerable when systems designed to support them fail. This can make them more anxious and stressed. For immediate release Skill Media contact: Barbara Waters Tel: 020 7450 0620 (office hours) Email: BWaters@skill.org.uk Notes for Editors 1. Disabled Students Allowances (DSAs) are to assist with additional expenditure students incur by reason of their disability, so that they can fully participate in Higher Education, for example, specialist equipment, non-medical help and extra travel costs. 2. Skill: National Bureau for Students with Disabilities gives information and advice to thousands of disabled people every year on how to maximise their experiences in further and higher education, volunteering, training, and employment. Skill operates an information service and helpline. Opening times for national services vary - see www.skill.org.uk for details. A range of information and resources is publicly available on Skill’s website. Skill also advises government policy makers and disseminates good practice through publications, conferences and professional networks. Skill is a registered charity with national offices in Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh and London. 3. Photos to accompany articles are available by contacting Sally Hayward on 020 7450 0620, email Sally@skill.org.uk Skill: National Bureau for Students with Disabilities Chief Executive: Barbara Waters Registered office: Unit 3, Floor 3, Radisson Court, 219 Long Lane, London SE1 4PR Tel/Text: 020 7450 0620 Fax: 020 7450 0650 Email: skill@skill.org.uk www.skill.org.uk A company limited by guarantee 2397897 Registered Charity 801971, also registered in Scotland SC039212 ews story text |
Skill - National Bureau for Students with Disabilites
Skill - National Bureau for Students with Disabilites
