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  • 18 score
    18 voters

    Reinstate assignment extensions for students with support plans

    Submitted 4 weeks ago by Sarahjane Cudworth Expires on 21 Apr
    Current
    • Wellbeing
    • Assignments and Exams
    4comments
    For some reason, students with support plans are being told that they do not get to use extensions to their assignments anymore. This feels like discrimination as nobody works the same as anyone else. Some people need extra time for a number of different reasons. Students are being told to speak to lecturers, lecturers are signposting to disability team and disability team are signposting back to lecturers. It is causing incredible amounts of stress.
Monisha Sharma
1:07pm on 23 Oct 24 I second this it doesnt not reflect well on the university of derby and their supposed equality & diversity policies! It puts everyone in the same boat in terms of academic skills and does not respect everyones differences in learning!
Jack McGuinness
1:49pm on 23 Oct 24 Hi Sarahjane, Thank you for your idea. Situations such as these are supposed to be sorted under reasonable adjustments. If you believe your situation is not being adjusted for, please reach out to our Advice Service, that way we can see the quantity of instances and feed that information into meetings we have to lobby the University for the benefit of students.
Kate Brice
2pm on 4 Nov 24 I completely agree with this. The evidence that has to be submitted to receive DSA and a support plan from the university takes time and is rigorous. The fact that a student then has to apply for an extension and explain how their condition has affected their ability to complete assignments at the required speed is anxiety-provoking.
Sonja Brown
2:25pm on 12 Nov 24 I agree too. It is unfair that students feel that there should be a 'level playing field.' I have dyslexia and processing some of the journal articles can be a minefield for someone with a learning disability. Lecturers can only do so much. I've even sent one of my lecturer's a draft of an assignment in order to get feedback that I'm heading in the right direction and heard nothing back. Maybe if the extensions won't be introduced, then consider that every student with a disability is provided with student buddy to help with support. Surely with disability including a learning disability, how would that work under the Disability Act 2010 and Disability Discrimination 2015 and also the Equality Act 2010. It is stressful enough with a disability that we are now deemed as being at the fair level of studying as a student that has no disability especially a learning disability (dyslexia etc). Non disabled students have an unfair advantage in comparison to a disabled student especially a student with a learning disability and that is unfair. This should not even be a discussion either, its more stress we disabled students do not need.