Commission policy paper urges better deal for disabled students

By Marguerite-Jeanne Deschamps. A European Commission policy paper has encouraged European Union member states to work harder at helping disabled students to gain university places and good degrees, with data showing that their life chances improve considerably with higher education. The report, Education and Disability/Special Needs – Policies and practices in education, training and employment for students with disabilities and special educational needs in the EU, was compiled by a France-based network of experts in the social sciences of education and training, NESSE. It emphasised UK data that 75% of disabled adult men with degrees were in work, while 38% of those without any qualifications were employed and 62% of qualified school-leavers had jobs. By contrast, the figures for able-bodied adult males were 93%, 85% and 91% respectively.