Hello everyone, I hope that you are keeping safe in what is an incredibly difficult time. It has been a long while since I posted my last update, but I thought now we have hit the end of this term, I would give my updates now! Hopefully they can add some positivity of what has been happening behind the scenes and how things have been progressing for Accessibility at UoL this year.
I would like to add, timescales in these updates may be impacted by the Coronavirus. As much as everything in here will hopefully be completed as soon as possible, with campus closures projects have had to be slowed and some brought to a temporary halt. Though I can assure you that I will always continue to make sure that everything happens as timely as possible.
Physical Accessibility on Campus
I want to begin where I left off, with updates from Estates on campus accessibility. After what was a long battle with ensuring accessibility became a top priority for the University, I can now give a definite list of the very minimum physical accessibility changes that are going to be made. Before the Coronavirus hit, the timescale for all of these was by September for the new academic year, however this may now unfortunately change. Though I will continue pressuring this to be completed as soon as possible and provide updates when I know more.
There has been an Audit of all accessible toilets and the findings are now being converted into a work schedule for contractors.
There has been an audit of wheelchair accessibility within lecture theatres, again the findings are being converted into a work schedule – this includes ensuring there are adjustable height wheelchair desks where they are needed.
A new process for pull cords is being investigated, to see a message relayed straight to security for fast responses. (All pull cords are also to be replaced where they do not meet safety requirements/have been cut)
There will be a review for the provision of automatic door openers, with priority to lecture theatres and major thoroughfares.
There will be an audit of lifts and the provision of mirrors to assist safe entrance and exits for wheelchair users.
There will be a review of accessible signage across campus, especially with focus on braille to ensure it is all corrected and to communicate accessible routes.
There is going to be a review of communications tailored to people with accessibility needs that are using campus.
There will be an introduction of an inclusive design guide to all contractors, to ensure that all future developments meet accessibility standards we are laying out.
There will be a replacement of the ramp into the Bennett Building – the design process for this has begun but due to planning permission this will not be completed by September and is aimed for the end of 2020.
Another ramp within the Bennett building that serves as disabled access to the top floor is going to be looked at and resolved, though details of this aren’t yet known.
Other items can still be added where there is need, please do email me at nak16@student.le.ac.uk and I will pass through suggestions to estates!
Accessibility in the Strategies
I have also been pushing for the University to release an officially accessibility statement in reference and commitment to all of the above changes and more, alongside an apology for the inaccessibility and disadvantage experienced by our students and staff. This statement is currently being worked on and I hope we will see very soon.
Further to this and again after what has felt an eternity of lobbying, the university have also ensured me that accessibility now has a firm place in their education strategy moving forward and I am still pushing to ensure it is in every strategy and is on everyone's tongue as they plan for the future of this university. I am hopeful that with accessibility being widely spoken about and considered across the university, we will begin to see even more positive steps towards becoming a more accessible place to work and study!
Accessible Accommodation
As I have previously spoken about in these updates, I’ve been working with Martin Miller, supported by Sana, on improving the accessible accommodation provided at the University.
Previously accommodation was charged at different rates dependent on accessibility needs, which financially penalised disabled students for their access needs, but now policy changes will ensure that accessible accommodation should never cost more than the price of a single bedroom with basin. Though I am currently unsure of when these policy changes will take effect, this is a big win at ensuring a fairer pricing system for disabled students.
Other things in the policy are still being resolved and I am still fighting for the removal of the need for medical evidence to be dated within the year, for the ability for family/carers to submit the evidence on the applicants behalf and other sections in need of change, but once the policy changes are made an accessible accommodation guide will be worked upon to ensure a transparent, fair and easy to follow system for disabled students. I will update on this when I know more!
Invisible Disabilities on Campus
Again this section unfortunately had to be changed slightly due to the Coronavirus, but the updates are still worth giving! Before the closure I had been working with the University and Media student Richard Klu, to create an Autism Awareness video. This was intended to be used at an awareness raising stall within the SU for Autism Awareness Day, but instead was shared via social media due to the closures.
Through the Accessibility Network Ideas, we have had badges made that are a way to non-verbally communicate comfort with social situations. These badges are a colour-coded traffic light system with a green one saying “I am comfortable you talking to me”, an orange saying “Please only speak to me if I know you” and a red saying “please let me start a conversation with you”. The idea behind this was to both help students with anxiety around social situations or who are non-verbal easily communicate their accessibility needs, and to improve awareness of invisible disabilities on campus. Whilst autism awareness day was intended to be the soft-launch of these badges, it will now be pushed back to the new term after University closures are over when we hope to hold another physical autism awareness event due to the cancellation.
I had also been planning an Invisible disabilities awareness event for May, which will now be pushed back into the next academic year. I will not be the accessibility officer at that point, but have run it through the SU CEO and have permission to continue the running of this event next academic year due to the need to postpone. This event will hopefully consist of a poster/video campaign and a panel event on invisible disability – though details will need to be ironed out closer to the time due to the changes.
Sensory Garden
The sensory garden has been a very up and down project this year. There have been many times it has seemed almost confirmed, yet other times it has looked impossible, mainly due to finances. This is another project that I will be continuing next year even though I will not be your AO, because it is one of the main achievements I really wanted to make! We are working on creating a working group so that I can remain lead on this project.
Currently I am waiting on information to give an estimated costing for the sensory garden, so that we have a figure to aim towards in terms of funding. There are many potential locations around campus that are being looked into, and where it is not possible to gain funding from the University I am going to be looking at external funding or fundraising in the hope we can make the sensory garden a reality. So sadly, there still isn’t much to update on quite yet besides the funding difficulties! I’m confident with determination, we can get there!
Digital Accessibility in the Students Union
I have been working with the SU on promoting and pushing for improved digital accessibility. After a few meetings with our CEO, marketing and Piers Wilkinson the NUS disabled students officer, there are now plans in place towards ensuring that the website is accessible and the necessary changes are being worked on. Hopefully a new member of staff is to be brought on to work on the necessary digital accessibility changes within the SU, including the website and the implementing of captions and image/video descriptions which I am still pushing to be on every post we make.
Accessible Events
This semester I have met with Hamza our Activities Co-ordinator, to look at policies for societies in creating accessible events. Since this point we’ve worked on creating a guide for societies to choose accessible venues, and he is currently drawing up a list of locations on campus and around Leicestershire that are accessible so this information can be given to societies for their future event planning. I have also helped inform the SU Accessibility training for society committee members which should hopefully keep accessibility on the radar for societies and ensure they think about it more in all the decisions that are being made!
Research into Accessibility and Ableism/Discrimination
Also this semester, Lily (SU research co-ordinator) and I released a survey into accessibility and ableism/discrimination that students have experienced at Leicester. It focuses on a few main areas, such as the physical and digital accessibility of The University and SU, The AccessAbility centre and also representation and discrimination experienced by disabled students on campus. The AccessAbility centre have now shared it with everyone who has disclosed a disability/access need to the University, and if you want to participate, the survey is currently still active and you can still have your say here: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/uolaccess If this format is not accessible for you, please contact Lily at lfp9@le.ac.uk
Research into the Awarding Gap
I have met with Graham Wynn (PVC for Education) to work on much needed research into the disability awarding gap. Whilst again Coronavirus will have an impact on this, research will soon be beginning into the disability awarding gap, so that we can work on reducing it. Of course, this is not an easy piece of research due to the number of different disabilities that affect everyone (and the award gap) in different ways, and again where I am needed I will be continuing this work into the next academic year.
1-1 Invigilation and The Complaints Procedures
Due to a negative experience of my own during exam season 2019, I have been working on improving the 1-1 invigilator situation for our students. Prior to the now cancelled May exams, invigilators did not require DBS checks, but after a lot of pushing from this point on-wards every invigilator will need to be DBS checked to improve the safety of our exams system. During the January exams, a monitoring system was put in place to ensure student safety before DBS checks could be completed. A panic system is also being worked on, hopefully with the intention of using safe-zone to allow students a way to discreetly call for help in their exams if needed for any reason. Further to this, I've been pushing for change in the complaints and disclosure procedures, and the University has now committed to ensuring that all student facing staff are properly trained in disclosure procedures and they are working on creating a simple to follow and accessible 1-page guide to complaints procedures for students.
The Coronavirus Response
Before the closure of our University due to Coronavirus I began pressuring the University on their response for disabled students in the face of the pandemic, to ensure that our vulnerable students remain acknowledged and safe in this time of crisis, whether they are still in Leicester or self-isolating at home. Due to the fact many students have access needs and reasonable adjustments that cannot be met during this lockdown, I had been pushing extensively for the adoption of a no-detriment policy since mid-march and I am glad that the University have now taken this system on-board! This will hopefully help reduce student anxiety around exams and assessments in this period, especially where their reasonable adjustments cannot be provided. I am also pressuring the University to take a stance against the current ableism we are frequently seeing during this pandemic.
My email is always open for students with access needs who are struggling, (or anyone for that matter!) and I will always do my best to help where I can: nak16@student.le.ac.uk
The Next Accessibility Officer
I'd like to take a second to congratulate our Accessibility Officer elect Niamh Barnes, whom you recently voted to be my successor! Just after elections I met with Niamh to update her personally about all of the projects I have been working on this year, and I am confident in her continuing those projects that are not quite completed or that are long term for the maintenance of a more accessibility focused university and students union.
Next year I will be carry on the mission I began this year, in supporting Niamh in the promoting and lobbying for improved accessibility at UoL. I have loved being your Accessibility Officer, and I know that Niamh will love it too, it is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done - thank you to all of those who voted to give me this opportunity last year!
Summary
This post is becoming most likely one of the longest updates I have written (and it could have gone on for longer!) so I am going to end the updates here until next time, with a little summary of 3 positive wins that are coming soon:
- Big improvements planned for physical and digital accessibility
- Fairer pricing system for accessible accommodation
- Accessibility has a secure place in the new education strategy moving forward and the Uni are to be releasing an accessibility statement soon
I hope you are all staying safe and well. As always, I am only an email away for any suggestions or if you are in need of any help, nak16@student.le.ac.uk.
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