Removing Barriers, Creating change, Advocating for You
Vision for an Inclusive, Accessible, and Empowered University Experience
As a candidate for Disabled Students’ Association (DSA) Chairperson, I am committed to ensuring that every disabled student has the support, resources, and advocacy needed to succeed. University should be a place where all students—regardless of their disabilities or neurodivergent conditions—can thrive, not just survive. My campaign is built on key initiatives that improve accessibility, enhance support systems, and amplify the voices of disabled students.
TL;DR: Key Highlights of My Campaign
If elected as DSA Chairperson, I will work to eliminate barriers and empower disabled students through key initiatives:
• Improving Accessibility Across Campus – Advocating for better physical, digital, and academic accessibility for all students.
• Expanding Lecture Recording and Flexible Learning Policies – Ensuring equitable access to educational materials for disabled students.
• Reforming Disability Support Services – Making the system easier to navigate and more responsive to student needs.
• Enhancing Mental Health and Well-Being Support – Addressing the unique challenges faced by disabled and neurodivergent students.
• Strengthening Peer Support and Community – Creating safe spaces for disabled students to connect and support each other.
• Improving Career Support for Disabled Students – Advocating for tailored career guidance and employment opportunities.
• Holding the University Accountable for Disability Accommodations – Ensuring transparency and action on disability-related issues.
1. Making Campus and Academic Accessibility a Priority
Accessibility is a fundamental right, not a privilege. However, many disabled students still face barriers on campus, whether it’s physical accessibility, digital accessibility, or academic accommodations that don’t fully meet their needs.
I will advocate for:
• Better enforcement of accessibility standards in campus buildings, ensuring that classrooms, libraries, and social spaces are fully accessible.
• More funding for assistive technologies to support disabled students in their studies.
• Accessible course materials by default, including lecture slides in readable formats and captions/transcripts for all video content.
• Disability awareness training for staff to ensure lecturers and university services understand the challenges disabled students face.
“No student should have to fight for the accessibility they deserve. By making campus and academic resources more inclusive, we ensure that disabled students can focus on their education rather than overcoming unnecessary barriers.”
2. Expanding Lecture Recording and Flexible Learning Policies
Many disabled students rely on lecture recordings due to mobility issues, chronic illness, sensory sensitivities, or concentration difficulties. Yet, access to these materials is often inconsistent.
I will push for:
• Mandatory lecture recordings for all modules to ensure disabled students have equal access to learning materials.
• Flexible deadline policies for disabled students, recognising that fluctuating conditions require additional accommodations.
• Hybrid learning options that allow students with mobility impairments or chronic illnesses to attend classes remotely when necessary.
• Clearer policies on requesting accommodations for lecture accessibility, so students don’t have to repeatedly justify their needs.
“Access to education should not depend on physical presence alone. By improving lecture accessibility, we create a more inclusive learning environment where disabled students can succeed without additional stress.”
3. Reforming Disability Support Services (DSS)
Many students find that university disability services are slow, bureaucratic, or difficult to navigate. I will advocate for a more student-friendly approach that makes accessing support easier and faster.
Key reforms I will push for include:
• A dedicated caseworker system so students don’t have to repeatedly explain their disabilities to different staff members.
• Faster processing of disability accommodations, especially for exam adjustments and coursework extensions.
• Better communication between DSS and academic departments to prevent delays in implementing accommodations.
• A transparent reporting system for students who experience issues with disability services, ensuring accountability.
“Disabled students shouldn’t have to battle bureaucracy to get the support they are entitled to. By reforming DSS, we can create a system that is responsive, student-centered, and truly accessible.”
4. Enhancing Mental Health and Well-Being Support
Disabled and neurodivergent students face higher rates of mental health challenges,including anxiety, depression, and burnout due to academic pressures and systemic barriers.
I will advocate for:
• Mental health resources specifically tailored to disabled students,including support groups and one-on-one peer mentoring.
• Improved accessibility of mental health services, ensuring that disabled students can easily access counseling and crisis support.
• More disability-friendly study spaces on campus that provide quiet, low-sensory environments for those with sensory sensitivities.
• Neurodivergent-friendly exam and coursework policies that accommodate the needs of autistic, ADHD, and dyslexic students.
“Mental health support should not be one-size-fits-all. By creating disability-inclusive mental health resources, we can ensure that all students receive the support they need.”
5. Strengthening Peer Support and Community for Disabled Students
University can be isolating for disabled students, especially when accessibility barriers make socialising more difficult. I will create a stronger sense of community by:
• Establishing peer support groups where disabled students can share experiences, advice, and emotional support.
• Running disability awareness campaigns to foster greater understanding among students and staff.
• Organising social events with accessibility in mind, ensuring that disabled students can fully participate.
“Disabled students deserve a strong, supportive community. By creating safe spaces and fostering connections, we can empower each other and push for change together.”
6. Improving Career Support for Disabled Students
Many disabled students worry about job prospects and workplace accommodations. I will work to ensure that career support services meet the needs of disabled students by advocating for:
• Workshops on disclosing disabilities in the workplace and understanding employment rights.
• Networking events with disability-inclusive employers to improve job opportunities.
• More work placement opportunities that offer accommodations for disabled students.
“A degree should open doors, not create new obstacles. By improving career support, we can ensure that disabled students have the same opportunities for success as their peers.”
7. Holding the University Accountable for Disability Accommodations
Too often, disabled students raise concerns about accessibility issues that go ignored or unresolved. I will introduce accountability measures to ensure the university follows through on disability-related commitments.
This includes:
• A public accessibility report tracking the university’s progress on improving disability accommodations.
• A dedicated complaints process for disability-related issues, ensuring concerns are taken seriously and resolved promptly.
• Regular disability roundtable discussions where students can voice concerns directly to university leadership.
“Disabled students should not be ignored. By holding the university accountable, we can ensure real progress in accessibility, support, and inclusion.”
Advocate for Accessibility
Accessibility should be a university-wide priority, not an afterthought. Too often, decisions are made without considering the needs of disabled students.
As DSA Chairperson, I will:
• Push for accessibility audits to identify problem areas in campus facilities, course materials, and digital resources.
• Hold the university accountable for implementing accessibility measures.
• Work with staff and students to ensure accessibility is integrated into all aspects of university life, from lectures to events.
“True accessibility means ensuring that every disabled student can engage with their education without unnecessary struggle.”
Demand Inclusion
Inclusion is not just about physical access—it’s about ensuring that disabled students feel valued, respected, and fully part of university life.
To demand true inclusion, I will:
• Promote disability awareness campaigns to combat stigma and increase understanding among staff and students.
• Ensure that all university events, clubs, and activities are accessible and welcoming to disabled students.
• Create spaces for disabled students to connect, share experiences, and build community.
“Inclusion means more than just being allowed in the room—it means being heard, respected, and fully part of the university experience.”
Reform Support Systems
Many students have experienced frustration and delays when seeking help from disability services or mental health support. These systems need urgent reform to be more responsive, efficient, and student-friendly.
I will advocate for:
• A dedicated caseworker system, so students aren’t passed between multiple people when seeking accommodations.
• Better funding for mental health services, particularly for students with disabilities who often require specialist support.
• A student-led review of disability services, ensuring that those most affected have a say in shaping improvements.
“Support systems should work for students, not against them. By reforming these services, we can ensure that disabled students receive the help they need—when they need it.”
Rooted in Experience and Advocacy
As someone living with autism and cerebral palsy, I have first-hand experience navigating university as a disabled student. I understand the barriers, frustrations, and challenges that many of us face—but I also know that change is possible. I have spent three years as a Course Representative, advocating for student concerns at faculty level. Now, I want to take that advocacy further and fight for systemic improvements that will benefit all disabled students.
Remove Barriers
Many disabled students face unnecessary barriers that make their university experience more difficult. These include physical accessibility issues (inaccessible buildings, lack of quiet study spaces), academic barriers (rigid deadlines, lack of lecture recordings), and digital barriers (unreadable PDFs, inaccessible websites).
As DSA Chairperson, I will push for the removal of these obstacles by:
• Advocating for automatic lecture recordings and hybrid learning optionsfor students with mobility issues, chronic illness, or neurodivergence.
• Ensuring accessible physical spaces on campus, including ramps, lifts, quiet study areas, and sensory-friendly environments.
• Demanding better digital accessibility, such as screen reader-friendly materials and captioned videos.
“No student should struggle to access the education they are entitled to. Removing barriers is the first step toward true inclusivity.”
Empower Students
Disabled students should not have to fight alone for the accommodations and support they need. Many students don’t know their rights or feel that raising accessibility concerns will be ignored. This needs to change.
To empower disabled students, I will:
• Ensure better awareness of available support services, so students know what accommodations they are entitled to.
• Provide peer support networks to foster community and shared advocacy.
• Work on stronger student representation in university decision-making, ensuring disabled voices are at the table.
“Disabled students should feel confident advocating for their needs. I will work to create a culture where every student knows their rights and has the tools to stand up for them.”
Transform Policies
Too often, university policies around accommodations, disability services, and mental health are outdated, slow, or ineffective. Transforming these policies means creating a system that works for disabled students, not against them.
I will push for:
• A streamlined and faster Disability Support System (DSS), reducing the time it takes for students to receive their accommodations.
• Clearer and more flexible academic policies for disabled students, including automatic deadline extensions where needed.
• More transparency in university decision-making when it comes to accessibility and disability policies.
“Policies should be proactive, not reactive. We need a system that anticipates disabled students’ needs rather than making them fight for basic accommodations.
Together, Let’s Build an Inclusive University for All
This isn’t just my campaign—it’s our movement: By working together, we can dismantle barriers, demand accountability, and create a university experience that is truly accessible for all. Vote for real change. Vote for accessibility. Vote for a university where disabled students are heard, supported, and empowered. Together, we can, and we will, make a difference.