Hi everyone, I’m Sophie and I’m currently in my second year at Derby studying Sociology. I’m running for the role of Part Time Officer for Disabilities because as a disabled student myself, I know how important disability inclusivity is. I am passionate about equality and accessibility, and I want to use my experiences to help advocate on the behalf of all disabled students and make a change.
I am an active disability advocate, having recently spoken at a national staff event for the Office for Students where I discussed the importance of accessibility in higher education and what this should look like for disabled students. I am also currently a member of Derby University’s Disability Society committee, as well as having volunteered for over three years with Attitude is Everything, a charity which aims to improve access to live music for disabled people. As a blind student, these experiences have enabled me to engage with the wider disability community, and the Part Time Officer role would further enable me to do this at the university.
If elected, I aim to
• Be student led: disability is different for everyone so I can’t speak for you if I don’t speak with you. I will therefore listen to what is important to you, along with any concerns and suggestions in order to make the university a more accessible and inclusive place for all disabled students.
• Explore options for flexible attendance and continued online access to services: when face to face teaching resumes, students should still be able to access services such as wellbeing and careers support remotely, as well as being able to attend lectures online in instances where a student’s disability prevents them attending in person. The pandemic has shown us that this is possible.
• Promote inclusivity in the wider university community: creating online information resources on different disabilities so staff have a basic understanding without students having to constantly explain everything, also incorporating accessibility into society committee training so that disabled students feel more able to participate beyond their academic studies.
I am a hardworking and highly motivated individual whose main priority is to always do my best in any task I am given, but I can’t do any of this without your vote, so if you agree with my aims, please vote for me!
*If you have any questions about my manifesto or require this information in an alternative format, feel free to email me on s.paul3@unimail.derby.ac.uk