‘Reasonable adjustments’ explained

Wheelchair users are entitled to the same access to education and healthcare services as everyone else. 

Reasonable adjustments are measures that organisations like doctors, hospitals and schools might need to put in place to ensure you receive that. 

Here’s how it works.

What are ‘reasonable adjustments’?

The law says that wheelchair users must be able to access services including education and health as easily as everyone else. Wheelchair users shouldn’t be at a disadvantage because of their condition.

This means that organisations like schools, hospitals and doctors’ surgeries must make what’s called ‘reasonable adjustments’ to ensure that wheelchair users get the support they need.

This can include:

• Offering additional services or support to overcome any disadvantage
• Ensuring physical obstacles are addressed, for example by making buildings more accessible
• Making sure systems and processes do not put wheelchair users at a disadvantage

These things should be offered at no cost to you.

Examples of reasonable adjustments in education and healthcare settings include

• Ensuring that buildings are accessible for people who use a wheelchair
• Providing priority appointments for people who can’t wait in their GP surgery or hospital
• Offering longer appointments if that person needs more time with a doctor or nurse
• Making sure the school admissions policy does not discriminate against wheelchair users
• Offering flexibility with uniform policies (e.g. cotton shirts instead of formal shirts, Velcro instead of buttons, etc)
• Leaving a few minutes earlier for classes and breaks
• A choice of where to eat lunch at school
• Regular movement breaks in class
• Providing additional assistance to ensure your child has equal access to things like school trips or being able to participate in school plays

When can I ask for reasonable adjustments?

You can ask any organisation to make reasonable adjustments for you to use their services.

For the adjustment to be considered ‘reasonable’ you need to show that you would be at a substantial disadvantage compared with other people because of your condition. If the changes are reasonable then the organisation must make them.

How do I know if an adjustment is ‘reasonable’?

It’s decided based on:

• What your child’s needs are and what support they receive under their EHCP
• Whether your requested change would address the disadvantage described
• Whether there are other ways of overcoming the issue
• What resources the school has
• The cost of making the changes or offering the additional support
• How practical the changes are
• Health and safety of other pupils/service users

Schools and healthcare settings are expected to anticipate the need of wheelchair users and adjust facilities and services in advance to ensure they’re accessible.

The school or healthcare setting must pay for these and must never charge you for them.

How do I ask for reasonable adjustments?

At school:

• If your child has an EHCP, SEN support plan or healthcare plan, the school should already be recording your child’s needs and any adjustments made and they will already have processes to ensure non-teaching staff are made aware of these
• If you have questions about any adjustments needed at school, you can ask to speak to your school’s Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENDCO)

In healthcare settings:

• Inform staff directly via phone, email or in person, ideally when booking an appointment or registering
• You should explicitly state that you need specific help due to a health condition and request the ‘reasonable adjustment flag’ be added to your electronic records for future appointments

Useful links

• Reasonable Adjustments for Disabled Pupils: Guidance for Schools in England
• Reasonable Adjustments: NHS England
• Disability rights – Education: gov.uk
• Disability discrimination in schools: Citizens advice