Site Map | Accessibility

Education Law Unit: home page | latest news | pupils' rights | advocacy | training | mediation | links & resources

Disability Discrimination in schools

Part 4, Chapter 1 of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 applies to schools. It forbids less favourable treatment of disabled children on the grounds of their disability. It also requires schools to take reasonable steps in order to avoid substantial disadvantage to disabled pupils.

In the event that a disabled child may have been discriminated against, there is a Disability Conciliation Service which can try to broker an agreement between the school and the pupil as to what should happen as a result of the alleged discrimination.

A pupil (or a parent on their behalf) can bring court action in the Sheriff Court if they have been discriminated against. Although no compensation is available, the court has powers to prevent a child being treated less favourably or to order a school to take reasonable steps.

Disability Discrimination Leaflets for Children and Young People

Disabled and at school PDF (80kb)
Disabled and at school (Arabic) PDF (440kb)
Disabled and at school (Chinese) PDF (217kb)
Disabled and at school (Gaelic) PDF (10kb)
Disabled and at school (Hindi) PDF (414kb)
Disabled and at school (Punjabi) PDF (446kb)
Disabled and at school (Urdu) PDF (411kb)
Disabled and at school (Audio) RealMedia (222kb)
Disabled and at school (Audio) RealMedia (524kb)
Disabled and at school (BSL) Windows Media (1,723kb)
Disabled and at school (BSL) Windows Media (3,166kb)