Disability Inclusion and Support Resources

We are working to create a campus which is accessible for everyone to enjoy and an the environment which helps all staff to perform at their very best.

Under the Equality Act 2010, a person is disabled if they have “a physical or mental impairment [and] the impairment has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on [their] ability to carry out normal day to day activities .”

Learn more and find support using the range of resources and support outlined below...

Did you know:

18% of the UK population are disabled, and approximately 80% of disabilities are hidden.

There is a 30% gap between disabled and non-disabled employment rates.

About disability

Learn more about disability in law and models of disability:

Disability in the Equality Act

The Equality Act 2010 protects people from direct and indirect discrimination, harassment, and victimisation on the basis of nine 'protected characteristics', one of which is ‘Disability’, as defined above.

Some conditions are deemed to be disabilities from the date of diagnosis, these are: HIV, Cancer, Multiple Sclerosis, and sight loss registered with a local authority or ophthalmologist.

There are also times when individuals may not identify as disabled, but are protected under the disability characteristic of the Equality Act. For example, mental health conditions, severe disfigurement, or neurodivergence.

In addition, in most circumstances, a person will also be considered disabled under the Act if they were disabled in the past, even if they no longer are.

But, there are some things which the Equality Act does not consider to be disabilities, including addiction to, or dependency on, alcohol, nicotine, or any other substance, seasonal allergic rhinitis (e.g., hay fever), tendency to set fires, tendency to steal, tendency to physical or sexual abuse of other persons, exhibitionism, and voyeurism.

Models of disability

Disability models are different ways of understanding disability which inform the approach taken to policy, identifying and raising awareness of disablism, and articulating the lived experiences of disabled people.

There are two main models for understanding disability:

The medical model suggests that people are disabled by impairments, conditions, or differences. In this model, disabilities can be fixed or managed by medical and other treatments such as medication, surgery, talking therapies, prosthetics, etc.
The social model says that people are disabled by barriers that stop them from taking part in society in the same way as non-disabled people, not by their health conditions. In this view, disability is created by an inaccessible society where everyone’s needs are not met. Barriers can be physical (e.g., buildings not having accessible toilets), the way information is communicated (e.g., video content which does not include captions), the way organisations work (e.g., inflexibility in working hours or locations), or people’s attitudes (e.g., assuming disabled people cannot do certain things).

Sources of support

Scroll to see sources of support and peer community networks as well as ways to foster inclusive practice.

Adjustments

The University's Adjustments Policy outlines our legal duty to provide reasonable adjustments for disabled staff and our commitment to providing adjustments for a range of other personal circumstances, needs, or identities e.g., relating to faith, caring responsibilities, trans healthcare, menopause, pregnancy, additional English language needs, foster caring, etc.

Digital accessibility

In 2018, a new regulation came into force for public sector bodies, this means that our digital communications must be accessible. This includes any work done on apps, documents, email, social media, and webpages. Discover what this means in terms of regulations and best practice on the Digital Accessibility at Warwick webpages.

Assistive software

We have a wide range of assistive software available to support staff and students e.g., reading, notetaking, scanning, mind-mapping, dictation, screen reader, and rest break software. In addition, the productivity tools list highlights a selection of free apps and software which can boost and aid productivity.

Let's Talk About Disability

The University’s Disability Taskforce developed the 'Let’s Talk About Disability' campaign to raise awareness of disability in a positive and inclusive way. The campaign consists of instalments celebrating different areas of disability with personal stories and useful links and resources. Instalments so far have included disability history, mental health, autism, D/deaf awareness, assistance dogs, and more.

Parking

Find car parking accessibility information, including information for Blue Badge holders. Registered Disabled Blue Badge holders have the same rights on the University campus as they have on the public highway and parking on Campus is free for blue badge holders displaying a valid blue badge.

Disabled staff networks

We have a range of disability and accessibility related staff groups including the disabled staff network, neurodiversity champions, support group for parents/carers of neurodivergent young people, and the digital accessibility network. On this page you'll find details of how to contact the lead of each group for more information about how to get involved.

Personal Emergency Evacuation Procedure

The University of Warwick actively encourages all staff and students who cannot evacuate a building on their own to complete a Personal Emergency Evacuation Procedure (PEEP) - a personal plan for staff who require assistance or special arrangements to get to safety during an evacuation.

Hearing loops

Portable hearing loops are available in specific locations on campus for 1:1 or very small group conversations.

A hearing loop is a system used to provide sound for people directly into their hearing aids/cochlear implants using a magnetic field.

Personal stories

Personal stories help demonstrate how inclusion issues manifest in everyday life and counter single stories that are often incomplete or inaccurate, challenging stereotypes and demonstrating the real human impact of these issues.

On this page you'll find personal stories from the Warwick community showcasing people's lived experiences of disability, including arthritis, endometriosis, dyslexia, fibromyalgia, mental health difficulties, and autism.

If you'd like to share a personal story to be included on this page, please get in touch at .

Read the Social Inclusion Annual Report for more about the action we're taking.

The Social Inclusion Annual Report highlights the work that has been taking place across the University over the last year, and how it is helping us to meet our Social Inclusion Strategy objectives to increase the diversity of our staff and student communities, develop an inclusive culture, and become an internationally recognised leader in inclusion.