Disability Discrimination Ordinance

The Disability Discrimination Ordinance (DDO) was enacted in 1995 and became operative in 1996.  It aims at eliminating and preventing discrimination against persons with disabilities.  The DDO makes particular references to the field of education and seeks to ensure that persons with disabilities have equal opportunities in access to, and meaningful participation in, local education.

The Disability Discrimination Ordinance: Code of Practice on Education, issued by the Equal Opportunities Commission, is applicable to HKU staff and students and provides guidelines on eliminating disability discrimination and harassment in educational establishments.

BASIC GUIDELINES

  • Respect persons with a disability as others
  • Do not make assumptions about the abilities and needs of persons with a disability
  • Discuss directly with the persons with disabilities regarding their needs

STUDENT ADMISSION

  1. Admission information available in accessible formats to cater for different needs
  2. Use consistent selection criteria:
    • Reasonable and relevant to the purpose of selection
    • Make no assumptions about the students' abilities
    • Involve no indirect discrimination
  3. Inform applicants of the availability of reasonable accommodation
  4. Train staff on disability and discrimination

CURRICULUM

  • Ensure that students with a disability have access to the same subjects, teachers and classrooms as other students
  • Provide reasonable accommodation to students with a disability who have difficulties in following the curriculum

ASSESSMENT

  • Ensure that assessment methods do not discriminate against students with a disability
  • Provide reasonable accommodation
    e.g. allow longer examination time for students with writing difficulties

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON STUDENTS' DISABILITIES

  • Purpose is to provide reasonable accommodation
  • Seek information only when necessary and keep it confidential

ACCESSIBILITY

  • Arrange accessible venues for classes or examinations for students with a disability
  • Provide an accessible environment to persons with a disability unless there is unjustifiable hardship
  • Websites should be accessible to persons with a disability especially those with visual impairment

GENERAL LIABILITY

  • Discriminators would be held legally liable
  • The University may also be held liable, unless it can show that it has taken all reasonably practicable precautions