Removed from college on the basis of my ill health

jevban

Hello

I attended at a local college to sign up for a course and was accepted. I have a range of complex physical and mental health problems and was honest about these, but have previously completed diplomas up to level 3 at the college. After signing up and waiting for my start date, I got a letter inviting me to discuss my situation with learning support. I went to the college and was taken into a room with 3 people and the upshot is they removed me from the course, told my carer over the phone I was unsuitable for college at this time, and already upset, they took my badge/ID off me in front of other students. I felt humiliated and absolutely stupid. What can I do? Have I any rights? I am still so upset by this and their actions. I was so upset, I got disoriented, flustered and couldn't find my phone or my bus pass, and they had to send me home in a taxi. They had no appreciation for how they made me feel or the impact on me.

Thankyou

Bev

BobQ

Sounds like you may have a claim under the Disability Discrimination Act. The linked document applies nationally........

http://www.dundee.ac.uk/studentservices/disabilityservices/_lib/docs/understanding-the-dda.pdf

duchy

What do you think happened to trigger that decision ? Were you invited to the meeting to discuss particular issues ? Did they ask you about certain situations and how you would deal with them ? Something is missing from your account.

My son has MH issues and the colleges he has attended have done their best to help him fit in with the course and college in general. They are usually realistic however and won't let him set himself up to fail.... Did they maybe feel you weren't yet ready for that particular course......and did they suggest alternative courses....or ways to prepare yourself so you will be ready to start the course perhaps next year.

Twisted_Cherry

Hello Bev,

This is so wrong on so many levels. They have certainly discriminated against you.

College can be extremely helpful for people with mental health problems, it can help you get into a routine. I have studied at college and found all my tutors to be really supportive of my needs as someone with mental health problems.

I would first write to the principal of the college and ask for reasons as to why they have refused to accept you. Give them 14 days to reply, and if no response take it further perhaps to the educational department of the local council or you could try involving your local MP.

What was the course you were intent on doing? It might help us understand what there reasoning was?

rogerblack

Discrimination _may_not_be_illegal_.
In general, companies and public bodies are required to make reasonable adjustments to cope with peoples disability.

However, reasonable adjustments may not be possible in all cases - for example it's quite legal to refuse someone a job as a builder because they're in a wheelchair - if the sites that are usually worked at are impractical for them to safely access and do work.

The issue about how the decision was made and acted on is seperate - clearly it's not a good idea to make decisions in a way that needlessly upsets people - but that doesn't change the fact that the decision itself may be legal.

jevban

Thanks to all respondents. I was initially written to asking me to meet with the support team so I could discuss my needs for times such as support for exams..on arriving..I was taken into a room and kept there and kept there while these individuals discussed me...bear in mind I have taken previous qualifications at the college albeit at another campus that has now closed and gained x 2 level 3 diplomas in different disciplines. I feel and felt humiliated. I had disclosed all my issues which are on record at the college from previous admissions. I don't understand the 'you are not suitable for a course here' attitude. They appear to think I'm not ready for the course I interviewed for and was selected onto...I was patronised beyond belief... I did say in my first posting I have complex physical and mental health issues but still manage to live my life. The offered me remedial classes in library situations away from the college. I am well beyond these the of classes.

Bev

jacques_chirac

When you asked for their reasons as to why you were not suitable, what did they say? Was this a higher level course? What were your previous issues?

To those shouting discrimination, you need to establish the reasons first!

spacey2012

What are the mental health issues and how do they effect you and do they draw anyone else in to the problem, such as self harming, attention seeking, threats of violence, self danger, danger to others.
As any of these would exempt them from having to make any adjustments.
Clear this point up and it removes any genuine excuse they may have.
But before discrimination comes to play, this needs to be examined closely.
You have a non de-script handle, nobody knows your true identity so open up and people will help you.
If this is wrong, it needs putting right.

jevban

This was an ncfe level 2 course...not a higher level course...that would have been progressed to on successful completion of exams and coursework...my previous issues were as discussed

poet123

I work in this area and in order to establish the facts we need more info.

Do you have the relevant qualifications to get a place on the course? What level of adjustment would be required for you to succeed? Are there any legal issues ongoing? Do you require support in classes to be able to fulfill the course requirements? What level of course is it? Is funding available to support your needs at this level of course? Unless we have specifics we can't really help.

I can see you are very upset about this but try to take a little step back and answer the above questions (even just to yourself if you don't want to disclose on here) It is unusual for support not to be available if all the above criteria are met.

With regard to their manner, it is a hard road, what one person views as someone being sympathetic another may view as patronising.

poet123

Cross posted. Funding for a high level of support is not usually, and certainly not always, available for a course of a lower level than you have already studied at. That may be one of the issues. Additionally, enrolments are often done by all members of staff not those with knowledge of specifics about you, so the person who enroled you would not necessarily have been aware of the issues at that point.

Another point would be the level of support required outside of class. Do you need help at lunchtimes, toileting, meeting from transport or would you bring your own carer in with you?