Disability Impact Statement

Policy: Disability Statement

Author: Jayne Hipkiss (HR & Operational Support)

Review date: 18/07/2021

Next review date: 18/07/2022

Swift is committed to removing barriers and to providing an inclusive and equitable environment that fosters the highest quality experience for all students and staff.

We recognise the importance of providing our students with high-quality tuition and support. Students should expect to work and study in an environment that positively encourages equality of opportunity and available resource.

All Swift employees, students and visitors are expected to treat others, and be treated with respect. If, however, an individual feels they have been discriminated against or harassed on the grounds of disability, they are encouraged to report the incident.

Discrimination in recruitment, selection or employment will not be tolerated, and is treated seriously by Swift senior management. Furthermore, individuals who discriminate on the grounds of disability may be liable under the Equality Act 2010.

What is a disability?

The Equality Act 2010 states that a person has a disability if he or she has a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long term adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.

Here at Swift we are committed to making reasonable adjustments to support students with a variety of difficulties to ensure they are able to receive the same opportunities as their peers. These difficulties may be physical, academic, or mental health related difficulties, such as:

• A specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia, dyspraxia or ADHD

• A mental health condition such as depression or an anxiety disorder

• An autism spectrum condition

• Being visibly impaired

• Being hearing impaired

• Have a long standing illness or health condition such as asthma, epilepsy or chronic fatigue syndrome

• Have a physical impairment or mobility difficulty

The ideal of accessibility underpins this statement and everything we do. This includes not only access to the built environment, but also to information and services. An important step towards becoming more welcoming and accessible to people with disabilities is understanding that services, methods of working and the built environment may themselves be enabling or disabling.