Equal Access to Education: Improve University Learning Support for Disabled Students


Equal Access to Education: Improve University Learning Support for Disabled Students
The Issue
In 2018, Natasha Abrahart, a 20-year-old physics student at the University of Bristol, took her own life after being failed by the very institution that was supposed to support her.
Her parents took the university to court and won. The judge ruled that the university had discriminated against Natasha under the Equality Act 2010. But their victory didn’t bring Natasha back. It didn’t undo the suffering she endured, or the fact that she spent her final moments believing she had no way out.
And she was not the only one.
This is not just about one university, or even just about higher education.
This is about the systemic neglect of disabled people across society. Universities are just one of the many institutions that continuously fail disabled individuals, pushing them to breaking points while hiding behind bureaucracy and empty promises.
As a disabled student myself, I know the daunting challenges that come with navigating higher education. Many times, we are promised support, only to be left in the lurch fighting for basic accommodations - accommodations that should be a right, not a prerogative. This personal struggle led me to create AdaptEd, an accessibility platform designed by a disabled student for disabled students.
This system will enable students to request and track their accommodations, making it impossible for universities to plead ignorance when failing to provide these essential services.
We will not let another Natasha die in silence.
Sign to demand that universities implement a standardised digital accessibility platform and take a proactive approach to disability support, thereby making higher education more accessible to all.
Demand Change: Make Education Accessible with AdaptEd
52
The Issue
In 2018, Natasha Abrahart, a 20-year-old physics student at the University of Bristol, took her own life after being failed by the very institution that was supposed to support her.
Her parents took the university to court and won. The judge ruled that the university had discriminated against Natasha under the Equality Act 2010. But their victory didn’t bring Natasha back. It didn’t undo the suffering she endured, or the fact that she spent her final moments believing she had no way out.
And she was not the only one.
This is not just about one university, or even just about higher education.
This is about the systemic neglect of disabled people across society. Universities are just one of the many institutions that continuously fail disabled individuals, pushing them to breaking points while hiding behind bureaucracy and empty promises.
As a disabled student myself, I know the daunting challenges that come with navigating higher education. Many times, we are promised support, only to be left in the lurch fighting for basic accommodations - accommodations that should be a right, not a prerogative. This personal struggle led me to create AdaptEd, an accessibility platform designed by a disabled student for disabled students.
This system will enable students to request and track their accommodations, making it impossible for universities to plead ignorance when failing to provide these essential services.
We will not let another Natasha die in silence.
Sign to demand that universities implement a standardised digital accessibility platform and take a proactive approach to disability support, thereby making higher education more accessible to all.
Demand Change: Make Education Accessible with AdaptEd
52
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Petition created on 12 March 2025