Disability Discrimination

• The University of Derby stated that it could not and would not make reasonable adjustments for a disabled law student.
  
  
• Despite finding significant flaws in the University of Derby's complaints procedures, the UK universities' complaints regulator has stated that it cannot make a ruling on disability discrimination cases.

The University of Derby has said that it could not make reasonable adjustments for my dyslexia-related memory recall disability, despite my having been one of the top performing students in all practical assessments on my law degree course. In essence, it has said, "You're too disabled to study law at the University of Derby and you complained, so we don't want you back".

Previous discussions were based on claims by the University of Derby that the Solicitors Regulation Authority mandated closed-book exams for a qualifying law degree. That statement has since been evidenced as entirely false but the University will still not allow me to complete my degree.

I also suffered verbal abuse related to my disability from a lecturer in front of a full lecture theatre. The lecturer has refused to apologise. A senior academic within the University has denounced dyslexia as a disability, claiming that it is used by students to obtain favourable treatment in exams.

"The aim is not just to resolve my own case but to send a clear message to universities that the Equality Act applies to everyone."

The universities' complaints regulator, the OIA, has stated that the University of Derby's complaints process was severely flawed but that the OIA cannot rule on disability discrimination cases. Because I'm not an employee, I cannot take the case to Tribunal. I know of many other students who have suffered similar discrimination. The Guardian newspaper has recently reported a culture of bullying and intimidation of students and staff at UK universities. A judge has stated that university student discrimination cases appear to be falling into a legal black hole.

As things stand, universities are only too aware that, if they abuse their own complaints procedures, they are unlikely to be held to account for disability discrimination unless a student can finance an expensive civil court case.

The aim is not just to resolve my own case but to send a clear message to universities that the Equality Act applies to everyone. To that end, I am in communication with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (the SRA regulates qualifying law degrees), the Equality & Human Rights Commission, the Office for Students, Universities UK, and the Minister of State. So far, it appears that 'maintaining public confidence in UK universities' is driving an agenda that seeks to bury the truth of a glaring regulatory chasm in the protection of students from disability discrimination by their universities by having these cases struck-out before they get to trial.

Since my complaint and following its discussions with the SRA, the University of Derby's Law School has changed its assessment methodologies in a way that completely mitigates any problems caused by my disability. However, the University is unrepentant and has recently stated that, because of the potential negative publicity from a CrowdJustice campaign, I must agree a lifetime ban from study at the University of Derby.

"This is an important 'public interest' test case which could set a legal precedent on important points of law about disability discrimination and the duties owed to students by universities."

Everything that I’ve worked for in my professional and voluntary activity is at stake in this case, including my home, but I refuse to bow down to unlawful conduct by a university. My initial funding request is to secure a case review by specialist law firm Leigh Day, as well as funding for further testing being insisted upon by the University that now appears to be disputing a previously confirmed diagnosis of dyslexia by its own qualified psychologist. The Court has stated that if I cannot pay half of the new, very expensive testing fees, my case will be struck-out.

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