“By creating we think, by living we learn” Patrick Geddes
7.1 The University has undertaken a range of activities in preparation for the introduction of the Disability Equality Duty (DED). The involvement of disabled people is recognised as central to this process and has been encouraged at every stage, and specifically through targeted opportunities. The importance of Senior Management involvement is also recognised. The University Secretary has taken lead responsibility for the University's response and has been actively involved in preparations, including attending training events on the DED and raising awareness of the University's responsibilities with staff and students.
7.2 The Head of Disability Services attended a DfES consultation event on the Disability Discrimination Bill in September 2004 and subsequently prepared a briefing paper on the new DED, including recommended preparatory action and a draft Disability Provision questionnaire, for consideration by the University's Equality and Diversity Working Group.
7.3 The Head of Disability Services, Disability Adviser and the University's Equality and Diversity Officer attended a SKILL conference on the DED in March 2005, and the Head of Disability Services and the University Secretary attended the Disability Rights Commission (DRC) consultation event on the draft Code of Practice for the DED in April 2005.
7.4 The University Secretary distributed an email message to all staff and students in April 2005 to advise of the new duties with links to a dedicated web page providing further information on the DED: Disability Equality Duty web page.
7.5 The University Secretary circulated a Disability Provision questionnaire and a memo on the DED to Heads of Department in all academic and support departments in April 2005 to raise awareness of the new duties, determine current level of provision for disabled students at departmental level and to identify staff training needs.
7.6 An online forum and email discussion list was established in May 2005 to involve staff and students with personal experience of disability and/or expertise in disability issues in developing the University's Disability Equality Scheme.
7.7 During AY 2004/05 and 2005/06, the Head of Disability Services delivered staff training on the DDA and the new Disability Equality Duty to over thirty different groups of staff; including at induction for new staff, for staff undertaking the Pg CertTHE, to admissions tutors and staff in various academic and support departments across the University.
7.8 The Head of Disability Services and the Equality and Diversity Officer prepared an article for the University's Contact magazine in April 2006, which is distributed to all staff and is available on the University's website, outlining the University's response to equality and diversity legislation, including the DED.
7.9 The University Secretary distributed an email message to all staff and students in April 2006 to raise awareness of the new DED and to invite contributions from all staff and students, and in particular disabled staff and students, to the development of the University's Disability Equality Scheme. Two questionnaires were available on the University's DED website to facilitate this response; one for staff and one for students. Completed questionnaires could be returned electronically or by post to preserve the anonymity of the response.
7.10 The University Secretary, Head of Disability Services and the Equality and Diversity Officer attended a training event in May 2006 organised by the Scottish Disability Team and the Equality Challenge Unit on 'Managing the Disability Equality Duty'. This supported the University's progress with action planning in preparation for the new duties and understanding of procurement issues.
7.11 The responses from the Disability Provision and Disability Equality Scheme questionnaires and feedback from the University's online disability discussion forums were used to identify the University's priorities for action and to develop a draft Disability Equality Scheme (DES) and action plan.
7.12 Focus groups of disabled staff and students were subsequently organised to consider the draft DES and action plan. Priorities for the first DES action plan were reviewed on the basis of this feedback and are detailed below:
7.13 The draft DES and action plan were also distributed for comment to staff identified as having lead responsibilities for action, to Disability Support Officers, to Trade Union representatives and subsequently to the University's Learning and Teaching Committee and Human Resources Committee.
7.14 The final versions of the DES and action plan were submitted for consideration and approval by the University Court in October 2006.
Next - 8. Data Gathering and Impact Assessment
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