LSE policy on disability
The LSE is committed to complying with the disability provision of the Equality Act 2010. The LSE policy on disability details how the school aims to implement the requirements of the legislation.
LSE's partnership with Disabled Go
In February 2016, the School confirmed that it would fund DisabledGo to produce fine-grain, pan-disability access guides to the School’s buildings (including the residences), good practice guides that will inform ongoing estates developments, route maps between buildings, and an Apple/Android app.
The access guides will be in place for the start of the 2016-17 academic year. The good practice guides, which DisabledGo will produce as part of this work, will support us in being proactive, at a time when the LSE estate is undergoing major physical change.
Disability and mental health resources
Time to Change: The LSE is committed to challenging mental health stigma and is a signatory to the Time of Change pledge.
Counselling: The School offers free and confidential counselling to all staff and students.
Mental health adviser: Students can also contact a Mental Health Adviser through the counselling service.
Disability and wellbeing service: You can find extensive information about LSE services on the Disability and Wellbeing Service website and on the Staff Wellbeing page.
Network for staff with disabilities: This network is not meeting at present. If you have an interest in being involved in it in future, please contact Joy Whyte.
Neurodiversity interest group: The Neurodiversity Interest Group is a regular group for both students and staff with neurodiverse conditions (dyslexia, dyspraxia, AD(H)D, Aspergers and others) to meet other members and exchange successful coping strategies. For more information, please see the Dyslexia and Neurodiversity Moodle site or contact disability-dyslexia@lse.ac.uk.
IT Accessibility
Information Management and Technology (IMT) is committed to the provision of facilities and support for disabled students and staff to assure equality of access to services.
Additional facilities and services for Library users with disabilities
The Library is committed to ensuring that it provides full access to the range of services and facilities that it offers to both LSE staff and students and non- LSE members.
Sickness absence: If you feel unable to work, you should speak to your line manager/departmental manager/head of department to convey this. You may also wish to find out more about sickness absence procedures.
Line manager's resource - A guide to managing and supporting people with mental health problems in the workplace [PDF].
Training: The LSE runs several mental health and wellbeing training sessions. Recent ones include ‘Mindfulness and Stress Management’, ‘Dealing with Difficult Situations’, and ‘Emotional Resilience’.
Staff rest room: A Staff rest room is available in the New Academic Building, and the reception team can arrange access.
Other organisations: Mind and Time to Change are two external organisations with a wealth of resources on mental health.
LSE Harassment Policy [PDF].
Equality Act 2010, Section 6: Disability
(1)A person (P) has a disability if —
(a)P has a physical or mental impairment, and
(b)the impairment has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on P's ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.
(2)A reference to a disabled person is a reference to a person who has a disability.
(3)In relation to the protected characteristic of disability—
(a)a reference to a person who has a particular protected characteristic is a reference to a person who has a particular disability;
(b)a reference to persons who share a protected characteristic is a reference to persons who have the same disability.
(4)This Act (except Part 12 and section 190) applies in relation to a person who has had a disability as it applies in relation to a person who has the disability; accordingly (except in that Part and that section)—
(a)a reference (however expressed) to a person who has a disability includes a reference to a person who has had the disability, and
(b)a reference (however expressed) to a person who does not have a disability includes a reference to a person who has not had the disability.
(5)A Minister of the Crown may issue guidance about matters to be taken into account in deciding any question for the purposes of subsection (1).
(6)Schedule 1 (disability: supplementary provision) has effect.
The Equality Act 2010 places a duty upon higher education institutions to make reasonable adjustments for staff, students and service users in relation to disability and mental health. Whether a person is disabled is generally determined by the effect the physical or mental impairment has on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities (the exception to this is people with severe disfigurement). Normal day-to-day activities are not defined in the Act, but in general they are things people do on a regular or daily basis, for example eating, washing, walking, reading, writing or having a conversation.