When 13.2% of higher education students in the UK have some form of disability, it’s so important that their voices are heard. While we don’t have specific research into disabled student experiences here at the University of Huddersfield, we do know that nationally, disabled students experience a lack of representation and support in higher education.

Compared to their non-disabled peers, disabled students:

• Have lower grades and lower levels of employment post-graduation and experience more barriers to extracurricular activities.
• Are more likely to be unable to access all aspects of their course.

With this in mind, disabled students need the space to make positive change and achieve equality and inclusion.

In 2018, that year’s SU President launched the Student Networks, including the Disabled Students’ Network. He wanted to provide disabled students with representation and the framework needed to organise, provide feedback, and make change.

Since the Network was founded, the Network members have started crucial conversations and prompted changes around things like:

• Access to sport and other physical exercise with both the Students’ Union and TeamHud facilities.
• The daily experiences of disabled students on and off campus.
• Accessibility in remote and in-person education.
• Worked with the University to develop the Inclusivity Framework for Course Design.
• Ran the Invisible Disabilities Campaign to tackle stigma.

We have also brought in a paid role organising this Network to ensure that the work that goes into it and the experiences and voices of disabled students are being valued.

The Disabled Students’ Network campaigns for and support a better overall student experience for disabled students. This has involved running events and campaigns to celebrate, appreciate, and raise awareness about specific groups under the umbrella of ‘disability’, as well as identifying and working to combat ableism and inaccessibility both on campus and beyond.