Norfolk schools accessibility strategy

What counts as a disability

Under the Equality Act 2010 definition of disability, a person has a disability if they have a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.

You do not need to have a diagnosis to be disabled, but you do need to have a physical or mental difficulty that makes it much harder for you to do day-to-day things like going out, getting dressed or cooking a meal.

Norfolk parents/carers have provided the following examples to help us understand how living with a disability might impact a child or young person:

• Daily tasks, like getting dressed, might take much longer
• You might find it difficult to go out on your own because you have a phobia, physical restriction or learning disability
• You might find it difficult to talk to people and avoid socialising because you can't always understand what people mean

Read more about what counts as a disability.

Accessibility

Accessibility means that people can do what they need to do in a similar amount of time and effort as someone that does not have a disability.

In an education setting, this means that a disabled student can access the same curriculum, physical environment and information as easily as a student who is not disabled. 

Reasonable adjustments

Reasonable adjustments are changes that make it easier for a disabled person to access or do something.

In an education setting, this could be:

• Changing the way things are done.  For example, arranging for a student who uses a wheelchair to have classes on the ground floor of the building.
• Making a change to the physical environment, such as making signs clear or installing automatic doors.
• Providing extra aids or services.  For example, giving a student with dyslexia a plastic overlay to make it easier for them to read text.