Accessibility at Further Education Colleges; Guide Dog Retirement Age

Published: Dec. 7, 2021, 9 p.m.

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All further education colleges are legally obliged to develop accessible websites, learning, teaching and assessment materials to students who need them. But new research suggests that eight out of ten colleges in the UK are not doing this. The research was conducted by disability consultancy company, All Able on behalf of Thomas Pocklington Trust. It tested the pathways blind and partially sighted students may use to find out about support a college may provide. On this, we speak to co-Director of All Able, George Rhodes, a college student shares her experiences with access to specialist technology and information during her course and we ask David Hughes, the Chief Director of the Association of Colleges, about what they're doing to change this inaccessible culture across some of the UK's colleges.

When we heard from Valerie Brown about her concerns over the retirement age of her current guide dog, Jack we thought we'd get her some clarification. We invited Valerie to put this concern, along with others she had, to Peter Osborne who is the Director of Operations for Guide Dogs.

Presenter: Peter White\\nProducer: Beth Hemmings

Website image description: the picture shows the midsection of a man who is waiting at a zebra crossing with his guide dog. In his one hand is his dog's harness and in the other, a red and white cane. The guide dog is a black Labrador, wearing a yellow harness. It is sat at the curb's edge and is seemingly looking right into the camera.

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