Visual Activities and Visual Impairment

David, who is blind, applied for a place on a welding course.  The education provider sought additional information from him to determine the level of his loss of vision. Having done this, they decided not to accept him onto the course since it requires the students to weld pieces of metal together, and the only way to tell if the metal is melted sufficiently to weld to another piece is by looking at its consistency and colour. 

There is no reasonable adjustment that would enable David to analyse the metal. Refusing him entry to the course is likely to be lawful under UK law as the reason he was rejected is a substantial one and is clearly related to the core competencies of the course.

Remember, the experience of disability is highly individualised, and people with the same impairment may have very different needs when it comes to making adjustments to practice. It is really important to have a discussion with the disabled person themselves about what their particular needs – and solutions – might be.