Disability History Month – supporting those with disabilities to succeed in legal education

As Disability History Month unfolds, it’s a wonderful opportunity to look back on the progress made within education to support those with disabilities. Although there is still more to do, especially within many traditional learning environments, we are proud to be part of the ongoing effort to ensure that anyone can receive an education, and that anyone can have the opportunity to enter the legal profession.

A look back through history

Throughout history, many individuals with disabilities have faced barriers in accessing an education that suits their needs. While legislation such as the Race Relations Act 1976 and the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 were introduced to protect minimum standards for equality of race and gender, there was a gap when it came to protecting disabled people.

However, change began with the introduction of anti-discrimination legislation for those with disabilities through the Disability Discrimination Act of 1995 (DDA). This came after a public campaign from Rights Now, aiming to force the government to end disability discrimination. As a result, the DDA made it unlawful to discriminate against people due to their disabilities in relation to employment, the provision of goods and services, transport and education.

The DDA was not completely successful however, with many significant amendments made over the following 15 years, and it was later repealed and replaced by the current Equality Act 2010. Encompassing a range of protected characteristics, this Act supports disabled people not only in employment, but also in wider society, supporting the rights of disabled students by highlighting the legal duty placed upon education providers to make reasonable adjustments.

Improvements in education

As a result of these changes throughout history, education has become more accessible to individuals with disabilities, with changes made to improve accessibility in physical locations, as well as providing accommodations like extended exam times or note-takers.

Plus, with the advancements of technology, education has been able to evolve and become even more readily available and accessible for everyone. Screen readers, speech recognition software and even flexible learning has significantly improved the educational experience for those with disabilities in the UK.

However, there is still more to do.

Efforts to combat ongoing challenges

Despite the progress that has been made, the challenges are still ongoing for those with disabilities looking to take on the world of higher education. That’s why Law Training Centre is committed to creating a learning environment that can better support those with additional needs and requirements.

We understand that for many individuals with disabilities, learning in a physical environment can present difficult challenges, and even with online learning there can be hurdles when it comes to rigid schedules. That’s why we offer a fully flexible, on-demand approach to learning. Learners are free to pick up their studies as and when it suits them, and are not restricted by class times and inaccessible physical locations.

As the first provider to offer online proctored exams on our CLC Licensed Conveyancer and Licensed Probate Practitioner courses, we have always been passionate about promoting flexibility through online education. We even have scholarship opportunities across our range of courses for those unable to attend full-time education due to health challenges.

But that’s not all we do. Law Training Centre is also keen to support those who need extra help when it comes to their studies, with extensive tutor support and a range of learning materials aimed to suit a variety of individual learning styles and needs.

“I’m disabled, so I have special needs, and I have found that you can’t be afraid to ask questions. The course at Law Training Centre and the study aids were so innovative. It really helped someone like me who didn’t do well in exams when I was a kid to understand the content and be able to achieve a degree-equivalent qualification.” – Katie Bennett, CLC learner.

Through Law Training Centre, learners with disabilities can therefore allow themselves to truly delve into a legal education and strive to achieve new heights in their legal careers.

To find out more about how we can support you, please reach out to our Student Services Team at [email protected] or call 0330 088 8495.