Muscular Dystrophy Campaign probes university support for disabled

Young people from the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign are to investigate whether UK universities are “restricting the futures” of disabled people by failing to provide enough support and proper facilities.

Over the next month, more than 100 members of the organisation’s Trailblazers network of 16- to 30-year-olds will test universities on their accessibility to disabled people, after some reported cases of poor disability planning, isolated accessible accommodation and inflexible timetables.

Disabled people are only half as likely as non-disabled people to go to university, according to government figures.

Additional restrictions

Trailblazers ambassador Zöe Hallam, 18, who studies at Oxford and has limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, said: “Taking into account accessibility and care packages, it took me over a year to organise my move to university.

“In a process that is already complicated for any student, the additional restrictions placed on disabled people can make it a real challenge to go to university.”

The campaigners will combine their own experiences with new evidence gathered through a survey of universities, with the aim of publishing a league table of universities and a “How to” guide for disabled students.

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