Projects tackle disability

A network of 50 projects to improve university provision for students with disabilities is to be coordinated by a National Disability Team, based in Coventry University's Centre for Research and Policy in Disability.

Funded by a Pounds 6 million grant from the Higher Education Funding Council for England and its Northern Ireland equivalent, the DHFETE, the projects aim to ensure greater mainstream priority for disability issues.

Mike Adams, principal coordinator of the National Disability Team, said that although significant developments had been made, many universities recognise that they still have a long way to go.

"Disabled students are still under-represented in the student population, and we want to raise the quality and quantity of provision in all universities," he said.

More than half of the projects will be based at institutions with little or no provision for disabled students.

"The funding will be used to improve the physical environment and to establish baseline provision, such as a disabilities office," Mr Adams said.