Inclusive learning & teaching

• Inclusive teaching – why do we need it and how do we achieve it?

• The support students receive

Lena Kloos

Head of Disability Services

Ext 4454, Email L.J.Kloos@herts.ac.uk

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4 key points from Equality legislation

• When one person knows about a student’s disability the University as a whole is deemed to know.

• We must treat disabled students fairly and make reasonable adjustments. There is no justification in the law for failure to make a reasonable adjustment.

• Not knowing about a student’s disability might not be justification for failure to make a reasonable adjustment

• The law covers everything that UH does

Inclusive environment

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UH - a Mjprovider of Mjinclusive Mj

learning & Mjteaching Mj

Marketing & MjCommunications Mj

Estates / built Mjenvironment / Mj

facilities Mj

Procurement Mj

Provision Mjof services Mj

the Mjequipment Mjin teaching Mj

rooms & Mjused to Mj

deliver e.g. Mjlong Mj

distance Mjteaching Mj

the chairs Mjpeople sit Mjon e.g. in Mjreception Mj

areas, Mjcafes etc Mj

promotion Mjof UH to Mj

prospective Mjstaff & Mj

students Mj

Website / Mjnewspaper Mj

articles / Mjbranding / Mjopen days Mj

etc Mj

To support Mjstudents' Mjlearning, Mj

wellbeing Mj, Mjemployability, Mj

social life etc..., Mj

Employment, Mjretention & Mj

progression of Mjstaff Mj

Research Mj

Business Mjand Mj

community Mjlinks Mj

To support the Mjmembers of staff Mje.g. Mjwellbeing Mj at Mjwork, contractual Mj

arrangements, social Mj

Used by Mjvisitors e.g. Mj

sports Mjvillage Mj

Create Mjopportunities Mj

for our Mjstudents & Mj

staff Mj

raise the Mjprofile of Mj

UH Mj

Attract Mjspecialist Mjtalent and Mj

expertise to MjUH Mj

Ensure we Mjhave a good Mjenvironment Mjto study and Mj

work in Mj

Bring in Mjstaff who Mj

are able to Mjinspire and Mjmotivate Mjothers Mj

Can disabled Mjpeople Mj

access this? Mj

Are they Mjaccessible for Mj

disabled people? Mj

Do they Mjconsider Mjissues Mjspecific Mj

to Mjdisabled Mjpeople? Mj

Does the Mj'research Mjculture' Mj

discourage Mjdisabled Mjpeople? Mj

Is it Mjaccessible to Mjpeople with a Mj

range of Mjdisabilities? Mj

Consider e.g. Mjcolour, Mj

acoustics as Mjwell as level Mjaccess & lifts Mj

Do they have Mjan Mj

appropriate Mjlevel of Mj

disability Mjawareness? Mj

Do they Mjprovide Mjenough Mj

support for Mjpeople with Mj

physical Mjdifficulties? Mj

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Inclusive practice – how?How can we get an inclusive environment / what does it mean in practice?

Learning & Teaching -

Take all reasonable steps to:• Promote / encourage disclosure – an environment in

which disabled people feel able to disclose• Anticipate the needs of disabled people – remove

unnecessary barriers• Provide specialist support – specific to individual

students’ (and staff) needs

Promote / encourage disclosure

Positive messages• Induction talks• Programme handbooks• StudyNet - academic + student support• In the run up to e.g. placements / field trips /

assessment• Think about the wording you use• Think about timing

• If you find out about a student’s disability encourage them to make contact with Disability Services (you can seek advice from us without giving names) 5

Anticipate the needs of disabled people

• Flexibility of programme structure. NB we must always maintain academic integrity and are not required to adjust ‘competence standards’

• Accessibility and flexibility of the ‘tasks’ you set• Delivery style & the way you present information

(electronic on StudyNet prior to the lecture?)• The teaching environment (e.g. lighting & equipment)• Awareness of your staff (including VLs) – ensure they

have they been informed how to find out about the adjustments agreed for disabled students and that they can make them

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Provide specialist support

• We can’t anticipate everything and some students need support / adjustments tailored to their specific needs

• Disability Services will pick up on this so please encourage students to come and see us in our centralised service.

• Note – Disability Services does not provide extra academic support

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E.g. of support package for dyslexia

• Through Disabled Students’ Allowance• Computer with specialist software loaded onto it

(designed specifically for dyslexic adults)• Digital recorder (to assist with notetaking)• Specialist study skills

• Agreed by UH• Extra time in exams / in-class tests & poss use of

computer• Occasional extensions to deadlines• Understanding of their disability and what it means

for them

Other types of support / assistance

• Students can also get support with e.g.• Travelling to uni if their disability means they

can’t use public transport• Specialist equipment and software e.g. voice

output / input, ergonomic keyboard / mouse etc• Specialist furniture e.g. ergonomic chair• Support workers e.g. general assistant (pair of

hands), sign language interpreter, mentor etc.

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Disability Services at UHHead of Disability Services - Lena Kloos (University wide incl support / adjustments for staff )

Ext: 4454, Email: L.J.Kloos@herts.ac.uk

Disability Advisers (main point of contact for students)Email: DisabilityServices@herts.ac.uk, Ext 3118

Assistant Disability Officer – Jackie Ellis (admissions, specialist technology, general enquiries)

Ext: 3098, Email: J.1.Ellis@herts.ac.uk

See StudyNet (student support / personal life / disability services) for further information about our team and the range of services available.