Treatment of Visually Disabled/Impaired Students

<p>I am a visually disabled/impaired woman, my conditions include but are not limited to FEVR (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Familial_exudative_vitreoretinopathy), Glaucoma and only having vision in 1 eye. Approximately 25% vision of a normal fully sighted individual.</p> <p> </p> <p>I made my case clear to the ICB prior to my exam as per requirements and I was assured that as per policy I would be accommodated, and I quote policy here "reasonable accommodation and/or modification in order to be fairly assessed."</p> <p> </p> <p>My complaint in this case has been against the venue, and “reasonable accommodation” provided which was a dim light and a desk lamp, which blew when, used and was replaced (after MUCH time wasted) with another clip-on lamp, which was unable to clip onto anything let alone a round table. The exam paper was meant to be large font printed on larger A3 paper but was simply standard font size printed on A3 paper which is utterly useless to a visually impaired person and just made matters worse by trying to work on a huge sheet of paper.</p> <p> </p> <p> The building itself which is a 90+ years old, hollow wooden floors, inadequate lighting (which is so important for a visually disabled person) which probably hasn’t updated since the inception of electric lights, disruptions (Crèche outside the exam rooms window on the same property), this list can go on and on, shocking choice of venue.</p> <p> </p> <p>Had I just been told that accommodation techniques would be so sub-par I would have brought my own lamps, magnifiers, desk everything. But I was told everything would be adequate for my needs and in subsequent complaints I was told another visually disabled lady wrote the week prior to me and also had complaints regarding the venue but was able to complete her exam reasonably. So I have had my disability ‘bundled’ into a “disabled people” group which is ************** and surely against policy which makes clear statement to various levels of disability.</p> <p> </p> <p>I am putting up this complaint here as all other means of appeal have failed with ICB and the answering basically summing it up to “well tough, too bad we can’t and won’t help you”. All I have simply requested is that I am allowed to re-write at no-cost at an adequate venue suiting my needs as a Visually Impaired individual. #ICBuk</p>