When students choose to talk about themselves and the struggles they may be facing—whether mental health, neurodiversity, disability or wellbeing—it is done with trust. They trust that information will be safely shared and that their needs will be understood and the right support offered. Indeed, the recent ruling of the High Court, regarding the death of Natasha Abrahart, has highlighted not just a requirement under the Equality Act (2010) but also the need to have a joined up, student-centred approach.
Although the High Court chose not to rule on whether universities have a statutory duty of care for their students, it is clear from it that once a student discloses their disability the university does have a duty to ensure that the student is not discriminated against either directly or indirectly. The EHRC welcomed the judgement stating that ‘We hope that current and prospective students will feel empowered by this judgement which provides them with clarity on what they should expect from their university.’ Hence there is an expectation that academic institutions must have joined up working with departments passing on key information on students with disclosed disabilities and putting in place appropriate support.
The solicitor for the bereaved family stated. The solicitor for the bereaved family stated:
So far as we are aware this is the first time the High Court has considered arguments that disability discrimination has contributed to a person’s death. Upholding the finding that Natasha’s death was linked to this kind of unlawful treatment therefore establishes a powerful legal precedent (Silverman, G, 2024).
