A disabled student, denied the right to access the stage to receive a symbolic handshake in his graduation ceremony, has been awarded £4,000 for injury to feelings against Canterbury Christ Church University.
In one of the first higher education cases under the education provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) to be decided in court, the landmark ruling was supported by the Disability Rights Commission (DRC).
Craig Potter, 28, from Kent, and a wheelchair user, graduated in 2004 at a ceremony at Canterbury Cathedral. While other students were able to receive a handshake on the dais from the Chairman of Governors, Craig had to be content with a mere greeting at the bottom of the steps instead because no ramp was provided to allow access to the stage.
