The best education money can buy? Disabled university students and the Equality Act

In amidst the financial cuts in the public sector and changing academic environment, this article considers key aspects of the legal and regulatory framework within which a university is obliged to make ‘reasonable adjustment’ for a disabled student. In particular, we examine the scope of the 2010 Equality Act for promoting inclusive higher education, focusing on the duty to make reasonable adjustments and the public sector equality duty. At the same time, it is pertinent to consider the relationship between the equality framework and alternative mechanisms whereby students can challenge the reasonableness of university procedure and decision-making, in particular the role of the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education. Finally, the paper considers the potential for consumer protection legislation to provide an additional focus on achieving an inclusive educational environment for disabled university students