Download the new disabled students' handbook

Added on 18/09/2008

Equality is one of NUS' core values and, through our Liberation Campaigns, we are working towards making society a fairer place for everyone.

Combating disablism is part of this work and the Disabled Students' Campaign has published a guide for officers in the field to assist them in breaking down barriers.

"Make the most of the disabled students campaign. This is your opportunity to make a big fuss about your [work] on campus," said Disabled Students' Officer Adam Hyland. "This year there will be opportunities for you and your students to lobby government, demonstrate, rally, petition, write to MPs, change attitudes on your campus, and more."

Start making that impact. Download the Disabled Students' Officer Handbook now.

An agenda for change

Added on 26/08/2008

The disabled community’s civil rights movement has launched a new social model of disability which is now influencing government thinking. In brief, the model states that people with impairments are disabled by physical and social barriers – rather than by any medical definition of disability (which forms the opposing opinion on this issue).

This change in view is beginning to have an influence on government policy initiatives and will no doubt begin to effect students in further and higher education and in your students' unions.

The Disabled Students’ Campaign has put together a briefing and is also available to offer further information and support. This briefing is aimed at encouraging participants of universities and colleges' students' unions, to understand better the recent developments in the social model and its implications for universities and colleges.

If you wish to obtain further information on the social model of disability, please contact Adam Hyland, NUS National Disabled Students' Officer.

Downloads

Social model of disability briefing

A day in the life...

Added on 10/03/2008

The disabled students’ campaign is keen to raise awareness of the day-to-day lives of disabled students. As part of this, we run an online series ‘A day in the life…’

We hope that these articles will create a better understanding of disabled students’ lives.

See the series, and find out how you can part on our ‘A day in the life…’ page.

DisabledGo partners with NUS to improve accessibility

Added on 28/02/2008

The NUS disabled students’ campaign is pleased to announce a partnership with DisabledGo, a progressive and accessible organisation that aims to improve information, accessibility and conditions for disabled students.

For years, many disabled students have struggled to engage in union activities and democracy. In addition, they have often found their courses inaccessible and their campuses problematic.

NUS believes the partnership with DisabledGo is important for promoting disabled students’ rights and building capacity for students’ unions especially the importance of students’ unions activity.

How the information is made available to NUS students officers

There are two main methods DisabledGo use to provide information

1. Education For All
   DisabledGo will distribute 700 copies of ‘Education For All’ flyers to students’ officers. The aim of the Education For All project is to promote this information to disabled students at your institution and encourage your institution to participate in the DisabledGo project and to visit their award-winning website - www.disabledgo.info. This website has many accessibility features.
2. One-stop shop of information
   Participants are able to quickly find the information to a whole range of facilities and services at a one-stop shop for information on www.disabledgo.info. This information can be accessed via university/colleges websites or students’ union links.

For further information, please contact DisabledGo on www.disabledGo.info.

Adam Hyland elected as Disabled Students' Officer 2008-9

Added on 07/02/2008

Adam Hyland

Adam Hyland has been elected as Disabled Students' Officer 2008-9. The election took place at the disabled students' campaign conference in Blackpool this week (w/c 4 February).

Adam has been President of his students' union for the last year and prior to that was on his union exec as disabled students' officer. He has also served on NUS' disabled students' committee.