University application rejection

[zoebrad]

Does anyone have any advice about how to appeal a decision to reject my daughters application to study BSc Veterinary Nursing, She has recently had a spate of seizures, she hadn't had any for a number of months and is seeking intervention for them with her mental health team and GP. The email from the uni states that due to her seizures they are not able to offer her a place. They have not made any provision to undertake a risk assessment. She is academically excellent and I do not feel it fair or just that she should be rejected without proper consideration of reasonable adjustments that could be in place. She has a risk assessment in place with college and a safety plan. Any advice would be gratefully received

[WorriedPappa]

Where are you based? If in the UK then I believe you need to appeal directly with the University. My Daughter went to Uni with FND including seizures and Huddersfield University were excellent at working with her. They provided her with assistance on campus in case she had any seizures. Sounds like discrimination to me, however, possibly its because of the type of course and the dangers of seizures around veterinary operations etc.

[mermaid-680]

HiI would contact the veterinary nursing team at the RCVS and discuss with them

I’ve been down this road myself

Ask for a copy of their policy on medical conditions also

Reasonable adjustments should be considered by the RCVS in her application

It sounds like she meets the RCVS medical criteria

It’s the college who have an issue

Scope should be able to support you and liaise with the uni

Her current college should be able to confirm in writing all the support and risk assess done presently

The RCVS may also be able to liaise with the uni as they are the ones who give Uni the ok to run these course

The uni have a duty of care to do a risk assess

They cannot turn her away like this

Disability rights and the CAB are also good sources of help

Unis are not always equipped in reality to accept students with a physical disability

I had issue with CAW in London..the vet nursing labs and lecture halls were in a listed building within ramp access and they weee not going to or even consider moving tge location of teaching to enable a wheelchair user to attend the course

Yet their mission statement said otherwise about equality and access

I did report them to tge RCVS after a dialogue with them was met with little or no answers or inclination to accommodate me

The other option is find another course provided

I don’t know where you are

You may have better luck in doing tge NVQ level 3

Which is work based min 15 hours per week , 1 day at a course provider ,sometimes these are RCVS accredited providers who on,y do vet nursing

Full time will take 2 years to qualify and part time an extra year to gain the hours in practice needed to qualify

I’ve worked in practice for several years and having spoken to degree nurses and NVQ trained NVQ seems better in learning on the job and gaining valuable skills

I know from my own experience that NVQ is hard to get a training place high competition

Many opt for tge degree because it’s easier however being accepted on the degree course is one thing , finding a placement unpaid is another

Many Unis do nut help you with this

This leave many having a course but no placement

You can’t start the degree without one

Practices have limited NVQ and degree places to offer and some favour degree students over NVQ and vice versa

Either way there is very tough competition for them and practices will often have a wide choice

In the meantime if your daughter can do some more voluntary work experience especially at the practices she would like to train at I would advise she do this because they will get to know her and may just decide to offer her a place either degree or NVQ .?

Sorry this is long

But I wanted to offer support and having been through things myself I’ve learnt allot along the way

Two of my animal care assistant jobs came via voluntary work experience and they also knew my ambition to go onto train as a nurse

Sadly my spinal cord injury has deteriorated last year or so and now I don’t be able to peruse this career

I hope you get your daughter to tge right uni or course provider because it sounds like she has the potential to go on and train to become a nurse xx

[zoebrad in reply to mermaid-680]

This is amazing information!!!

I am sorry that you are having more issues with your SCI. I’m sure you already know about BACKup and other SCI organisations. Best wishes to you and thank you so much for your reply x

[mermaid-680 in reply to zoebrad]

Hey no probs Happy to help where I can

Thanks re sci it’s a bummer but coming to terms with this and the halt to my career plans lol

Let me know how things pan out

Em x😀👍

[Pault1]

Is this not disability discrimination ?Maybe you should get some professional advice from Citizens advice or human rights solicitor or the various disability support organisations.

Send a letter to your MP and make it as public as possible to damage the reputation of the university they should be ashamed

disabilityrightsuk.org

“Publicly funded education providers have a duty under the Equality Act not to discriminate against potential, current or former students. An education provider could be a university, college, Local Authority or a school which runs further education courses. All aspects of studying are covered including:

course admissions

the provision of education

access to any benefit, facility or service

exclusions”

The university has legal obligations.

gov.uk/rights-disabled-pers...

[zoebrad]

Thank you

[mermaid-680]

As others high,Ishtar this is discrimination under the 2010 equality act As far as seizures go and RCVS entry requirements am unsure you’ll have to contact the RCVS

It seems it’s the uni that’s the issue not the course

They need to be brought to task on this

Tge RCVS approve unis to run the course and they need to know what is going on and should intervene

X

[zoebrad in reply to mermaid-680]

Oh I will

[Brokendeer]

Hi firstly I have no experience with Uni applications or policies - but I did work for an Animal Studies College for a while and I do have Motor FND and know others with Non-Epileptic Seizures.

I think your Daughter should consider other course options, this is not a matter of rejecting her because of her lack of academic skills, it is only rejection on the basis that she would be a potential danger when handling animals (which of course can be unpredictable at the best of times!)

The Animal Studies College I worked for had an almost impossible task of letting non-FND students be assigned to work placements at Veterinary Practises, because of high risk to themselves, animals and huge insurance coverage issues. So I kinda see where the Uni is headed with this one, even if your daughter passed a Veterinary Degree with a 1:1 - who would employ her in this field?

Also, I talked to one of my severe non-epileptic Seizure FND friends once and suggested they get a seizure dog to improve their independence. They said they were not even trusted with handling the kettle or using the washing machine - so there was no way they could care or be responsible for a dog!

The important thing with all education & career aspirations is to find the right fit, support and expect compromise on both sides - think more long term as to potential employers wants and needs, risk assessments and adjustments available, before settling on a course/degree.

Good luck,

Look for the calm in the Storm!

[zoebrad in reply to Brokendeer]

Thanks for your reply.

I understand what you’re saying. However, she has completed her nvq and attended placement with management plans in place. The vets she has placement at have been extremely supportive.

There are risks, however, with support these can be mitigated. Something this particular HE Establishment has failed to even consider

Take care