Student disability claims in the UK and USA: does the jurisprudence converge?

Laws in the UK and the USA protect college students with disabilities from discrimination. The laws of both nations are complex and require institutions of higher education to accommodate qualified students. This article examines the requirements of both nations' laws with respect to the kinds of inquiries that may be made of students with disabilities, how the institution must go about determining what accommodations are needed, whether the needed accommodations are reasonable and consistent with academic standards or requirements, and whether the institution is required to attempt to accommodate undisclosed disabilities. The article also discusses how the laws in each nation are enforced, addresses the remedies that are available to students in both nations, and focuses on the interpretation of these laws with respect to admission, academic accommodations, nonacademic accommodations (such as housing, student discipline, and co-curricular activities). It also discusses the institution's duty to students with psychiatric disorders who may engage in self-destructive behavior.