#ShowYourSmile
As we look ahead to the start of a new year in September, we are expecting a lot of changes. One of these changes is likely to be more people wearing masks in public spaces. While this is a great way of promoting public health, it means for a lot of deaf and hard of hearing people that communicating has just become a whole lot harder. You can’t lip-read through a mask, nor can you see facial expressions. We want people to look at using masks with clear windows in. These masks still create a barrier, but mean that your mouth is still visible.
Will you #showyoursmile this September?
Disabled Access at the Gym
Disabled students often feel self consious joining the gym due to the constraints they have surrounding movement and exercise. With that in mind we want the Sir Tom Finney Sport Centre to do more to provide space for disabled users - including accessible hours to work out and more accessible classes including interpreted sessions.
​
UPDATE - Thanks to a meeting with the VP of Activities, an 'Accessibility in Sport' working group has been set up - with representatives from the SU (VP Activities, VP Welfare and Sports Coordinator) and staff from the University Sports Department.
Accessible Events
The Disabled Student Society is always campaigning to make our university as accessible as possible. One of the changes we are advocating for is access information to be clearly displayed for all events run by the university. This includes whether there will be an interpreter, accessible bathrooms or strobes used at an event.
Please go to the Student Union Big Ideas page and vote for 'Accessible Events' - https://www.uclansu.co.uk/thestudentvoice/accessible-events
​
UPDATE 25/09/2020 - The issue has enough votes to go to council!
​
UPDATE 5/11/2020 - The motion 'Accessible Events' was passed by the Student Council
Sunflowers, So What?
‘Wearing the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower discreetly indicates to people around the wearer including staff, colleagues and health professionals that they need additional support, help or a little more time.’ Unfortunately, due to the lanyard being misused during the pandemic.
When blended learning was announced, students with disabilities expressed concerns that the university would provide sunflower lanyards which are not meant to show mask exemptions. The university assured us in meetings through our representatives that they would not be sunflower lanyards, and yet in early November the university was providing sunflower lanyards for mask exemptions. We instantly spotted the issue, we were ignored. ould it have been so hard to create a special ‘UCLan exemption lanyard’ which would only be given out to those who successfully registered on the ‘exemption register’ when they came to collect it?
​
​
UPDATE 26/02/2021 - The new lanyards are now available for collection from the library!
Remember to check back here regularly to see our latest campaigns!
If you have a campaign you want the Disabled Student Society to support let us know here
Campains For Change
Campains For Change
