Supporting health care students with disability in the clinical environment
Victoria Eathorne, Disability Advisor, Cornwall Partnership NHS Trust
Abstract
A number of policy documents have indicated that the NHS should be employing a more diverse workforce, including people with disability (DoH 1999, DoH 2000, DoH 2000a). Further to this, legislation provides a framework for equality (Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA (HMSO 1995)) and the new duties outlined in part IV (amended by the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001 [SENDA 2001]) place responsibilities on educators and the health services to provide for students with disabilities.
Although much has been written about supporting health care students in the educational environment (e.g. Porrer 1990, Tinklin 1999, Earl & Sharp 2000) little has been written about health care professionals in the clinical environment (e.g. Anonymous 1995, French 1993, Hutton 1996). It is difficult to draw from the literature guidelines for good practice in supporting students with disability in the clinical environment.