UCL Disabled Students' Network Report: Jeremy Bentham's vision and UCL's reality

The third and final article from the DSN report series examines UCL’s approach to online learning and considers whether the reality of being a disabled student at UCL measures up to Jeremy Bentham’s vision of meritocracy. 

Source: UCL Imagestore

Being disabled at university - challenges and calls for change 

In 2017, the Higher Education Funding Council for England commissioned a survey to examine the extent to which post-secondary educational providers have adopted the social model of disability. This is a framework used to understand disability as a result of societal barriers and discrimination rather than as an inherent characteristic of an individual. When applied to education, the social model of disability emphasises that it’s not the individual’s condition that limits their participation and success in education, but rather the way society is structured and the systemic barriers it creates. 

The aim is for establishments to build the social model of disability into the foundations of their pedagogy and physical premises, instead of adding partial concessions as an afterthought. The results indicated that 95 per cent of universities and colleges taking part in the study provide books in electronic format and 100 per cent upload course materials online, but there still appears to be a shortage of institutions videotaping all of their lessons, at only 8 per cent. The Disabled Students’ Network (DSN) have urged for UCL to make digital recordings via Lecturecast mandatory, unless there’s the risk of sensitive or confidential information being discussed, in order to make lectures and seminars more accessible for those whose physical attendance is at times a challenge for medical reasons.  

Data from a questionnaire developed by the DSN revealed that two thirds of disabled students had faced ableism, a form of discrimination that favours able-bodied individuals while marginalising those with disabilities. What’s more, 58 per cent were made to feel unwelcome at UCL due to their disability. One student recalled how they had been “sidelined, misinformed, and mistreated” by the Disability, Mental Health, and Wellbeing team, and another stated that pastoral services are doing an “almighty disservice to the people who they purport to support”. Particularly concerning was one student’s comment on the “disabling” quality of care at UCL, which at times has had such a negative impact on student welfare that it’s led students to terminate their studies.  

Bentham’s vision 

Philosopher and jurist Jeremy Bentham is often accredited as the ‘spiritual father’ of UCL. While he wasn’t directly involved in the founding of UCL in 1826, Bentham’s vision of equal access to education is enshrined in the heart of the institution, with it being the first English university to accept students irrespective of colour, creed, or political persuasion. Bentham’s ethical theory of utilitarianism asserts that the best action is the one that maximises overall happiness or pleasure and minimises suffering or pain for the greatest number of people. Unfortunately, though UCL prides itself on being a progressive institution, a large proportion of disabled students are vehemently dissatisfied.  

In light of the findings from the DSN report, it’s plain to see that the shortcomings of the disability support offered at UCL are many and varied. The DSN has put forward a series of interim goals which lay the groundwork for long-term objectives, the deadlines of which were March 2 and September 1. Kyle Lewis Jordan, former DSN Officer, remarked: “We're on the cusp of making some monumental change and sticking it to the people who we were meant to be able to rely on.” However, since the publication of the DSN report, progress has been hampered by the pandemic, and with the two target deadlines having passed, it begs the question: what steps have UCL taken, if any at all, to demonstrate their commitment to the recommendations made by the DSN?  

UCL’s reality 

Six weeks after the release of the DSN report, the DSN sent an open letter to the Provost Michael Arthur to establish how UCL plans to address the concerns raised in the DSN report. The committee praised UCL’s move to set up the Improving the Disabled Students’ Experience Working Group as a means of creating a feedback culture and opening channels of communication between staff and students. However, the DSN has also expressed their misgivings about whether any concrete actions have been taken, beyond mere lip service, to implement university-wide changes in line with the 2010 Equality Act. Several undergraduates and postgraduates who have completed the initial survey have reported that the wellbeing support system at UCL is disorganised, with many students being caught up in endless email threads while urgent issues remain unresolved. 

Using hashtags such as #UCLCares would suggest that student wellbeing is a high priority for the university. However, one of the biggest institutional failings is that UCL’s wellbeing support system is still without a member of staff that students can consult if they encounter “institutionalised disability discrimination”. The DSN repeated their request for a university-wide board dedicated to accessibility and a separate member of staff specialising in disability law who can train staff and guide students wishing to lodge a formal complaint. Although they commended UCL Estate’s preliminary plan and its detailing of measurable solutions, the DSN has criticised the proposal drawn up by Student Support and Wellbeing, which they maintain is riddled with “denying missteps”.  

Another point of contention is UCL Accommodation’s refusal to reimburse disabled students who were overcharged for accessible halls of residence in previous academic years. This breaches UCL’s duties under the 2016 amended regulations of the Disabled Students’ Allowance, which states that “institutions should not pass any [of the] additional costs of specialist accommodation onto the student”. Ultimately, the DSN has called for all parties to take ownership of their individual responsibilities and redress the grievances of UCL’s disabled students.  

UCL’s motto reads: “Let all come who by merit deserve the most reward”. Yet one is inclined to ask: if it’s those who by virtue of ability are welcomed into UCL’s academic community, then why are so many left unable to reap its rewards?  

This article was written with the help of former Pi Media member Matilda Singer.