This one day online conference will focus on priorities and next steps for supporting students with disabilities in higher education, improving their student experience and graduate outcomes.

It will be an opportunity for stakeholders and policymakers to discuss key considerations for the Disability in Higher Education Advisory Panel announced by the Office for Students, as it reviews how disabled people are currently supported in HE and formulates guidelines on priorities for improving experience and outcomes.

Delegates will consider potential reform to the provision of non-medical help funded through the Disabled Students’ Allowance, following DfE’s call for evidence on Improving non-medical support for disabled students in higher education. They will examine implications of recent changes introduced by the Student Loans Company, such as the new DSA application process, the involvement of the private sector in delivering needs assessments and assistive technology, and concerns over communication and cohesive provision.

Sessions will examine strategies for best practice and enhancing support systems, ensuring equity and financial sustainability of provision, and improving disabled students’ engagement in the HE community. Progress since Disabled Students UK’s Access Insights 2023 report will also be assessed, with their more recently published 2024 Access Insights Report finding that nearly 40% of disabled students had their agreed-upon support implemented.

There will also be a focus on next steps for the Disabled Student Commitment, including approaches and responsibilities for HEIs and local authorities, and how barriers to wider take-up of the commitment can be addressed.

Further areas for discussion include preparing students for life after HE, looking at priorities for improving recruitment and careers advice, provisions for ongoing study, and opportunities for progression into high-skilled employment and leadership positions. We expect discussion on coordination of policy in this area, in light of the Government’s establishment of Skills England, the recently published Get Britain Working white paper, as well as the forthcoming Lifelong Learning Entitlement. In light of the Public Services Committee recently finding that the disability employment gap has remained at about 30% for the last 10 years, delegates will explore the way forward for breaking down barriers to employment and bridging skills shortages.

We are pleased to be able to include keynote sessions with: Katherine Bayliss, Team Leader, Disabled Students’ Allowance, DfE; Jo Nuckley, Head, Outreach and Insight, OIA; David Thomson, Senior Manager, SLC; and Andrew Hamilton, Disability Lobbyist; Founder, Just Include; and Campaigns Officer, Disabled Students and Carers Association, Durham University.