Disability Equality
As part of the EDI annual report 2021-22, the University of Sunderland show how they have supported disability equality.
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As part of the EDI annual report 2021-22, the University of Sunderland show how they have supported disability equality.
The University of Sunderland has worked hard across 2021-22 to improve accessibility and support for students and staff with disabilities.
In 2021-22, we have aimed to continue this growth in equality and inclusion.
We have provided training sessions throughout the year on various topics regarding disability, mental health, and long-term health conditions. These have included:
At the University of Sunderland, we celebrate many national and international events that bring awareness to disabilities, mental health, and long-term health conditions.
This year this has included:
This year the University of Sunderland partnered with AccessAble who helped with creating digital accessibility guides for the University which can be used by staff, students and the public.
AccessAble, originally called DisabledGo, was set up in 2000 by Dr. Gregory Burke as a result of his own experiences as a wheelchair user and disabled walker. Working alongside over 100 different disability groups Gregory launched DisabledGo's first website in 2002. Since then, the organisation has grown and developed, continually meeting and listening to its user community.
In February 2022 Positive Allies relaunched. Positive Allies is a free charter mark for organisations to show that they are ‘HIV friendly’ toward staff and volunteers. It shows their commitment to tackling HIV-related stigma in places of work and volunteering, after research has shown that the experiences of people living with HIV in the United Kingdom have revealed some worrying trends including:
The launch was attended by organisations as diverse as HSBC, universities, and Third Sector organisations, to hear about the charter mark and the lived experience of people living with HIV.
This year the University of Sunderland released inclusive language guidelines to help staff and students understand the impact of the words they use. The guidlines outlines how to use inclusive language to avoid biases, slang or expressions that exclude certain groups based on age, race, ethnicity, disability, gender or sexual orientation.
Within the guidelines it was highlighted that we should not define a person or group according to their disabilities or conditions, and instead use language that focuses on their abilities, rather than limitations.
For our student ambassador vacancies, all disabled, care-experienced and estranged students are guaranteed an interview. We have also changed the way we recruit, with vacancies being available for each programme or subject area rather than all applicants competing against each other. This has resulted in a fairer and more inclusive recruitment process, ensuring that applicants with less interview experience and confidence also have an opportunity to become a student ambassador.
When planning our event schedules, we ensure that our events are accessible and inclusive, planning events at different times of the day and days of the week, considering the size and structure of our events to meet different needs and preferences. We ask all attendees if they have any additional support needs prior to the event so we can put plans and measures in place including paying for British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters for prospective students to enable engagement with university/academic colleagues both on campus and at online events and meetings.
We continue to embed equality, diversity and inclusion in everything we do, ensuring all colleagues keep their EDI related training updated and are aware of all services available within the University so we can signpost and refer as required.
We ensure that activities and events are accessible to all so that everyone can participate. This includes providing support such as sign language interpreters, planning events and activities at different times in the day or across different mediums (particularly for online resources where digital poverty can be a barrier). Examples this year included:
A University of Sunderland student has teamed up with an award-winning North East film company to help produce a gritty, interactive drama that tackles teenage pregnancy and how disabled people can be excluded from vital public health.
Read more about about the project Laura Northmore is working on.
University of Sunderland student and budding presenter Chrissy Cameron is riding the airwaves to success after winning the Best Newcomer at this year’s Student Radio Awards (SRAs).
Read more about about how Chrissy Cameron achieved his success.
The abuse that autistic people have experienced at the hands of someone they know and the difficulties they face in trying to access support, have been unveiled in a new study by the University of Sunderland.
Read more about about the study.
A unique and powerful charter mark created by a Sunderland lecturer to increase employers’ commitments to becoming HIV-friendly is relaunching to tackle the ongoing workplace stigma surrounding the virus.
Read more about about the Positive Allies charter.
For Mental Health Awareness Week, one University of Sunderland student used her creative talents to try and break down the stigma around mental health by holding her own unique art exhibition.
Read more about about the exhibition for Mental Health Awareness Week.
Two university friends with a shared vision to help others have teamed up to change the lives of disabled people across the North East.
Read more about about Regeneration NE.
The University of Sunderland is committed to enhancing diversity, inclusion and promoting equality of opportunity amongst all our staff and students. As part of this commitment, one of our priorities in our University Athena SWAN Action plan was to promote greater inclusivity at the conferences and events we organise.
We wanted to ensure that our events demonstrate the diversity of staff working in our field as well as allowing people of all backgrounds and career stages to participate and feel included, in both the more formal panel sessions and the socialising and networking opportunities. We put together a practical guide for event organisers at the University, drawing on examples of best practice from across the university sector and beyond.
The relocation of the Northern Centre of Photography to the newly refurbished teaching space in David Goldman Technology Centre provided an opportunity for Estates and Facilities to create additional agile workspaces in St. Mary’s Building.
Accessibility was a key consideration in designing the spaces. The absence of a lift in the building informed the design with the ground floor work spaces being prioritised for those staff with access issues. Kitchen and inclusive toilet facilities were also created on the ground floor. New ergonomic and adjustable chairs were procured for the project with ‘sit and stand’ desks available throughout the building.
A variety of workspace environments have been created in the building to cater for a range of working styles and preferences. Desks, collaborative spaces, soft seating, height adjustable desks, smaller and larger rooms allow staff to identify the best environment to work comfortably in depending on the task they are undertaking.
During the 2022 summer vacation period, Estates and Facilities refurbished the lower ground floor of CitySpace to create a space for the Students’ Union and a venue for students to come together to socialise and make friends. An important element of the project was to ensure that there were no barriers to access and that all students would be able to use the space. With this aim in mind a number of key furniture items were of a bespoke design to ensure inclusivity. The counter in the new SU shop space was designed to maximise the desk area whilst ensuring space for wheelchair access into the shop from the main front entrance. The reception desk design included an inclusive desk level for wheelchair access.
The project also included the provision of new mobile SU ‘Help Points’ in CitySpace, Edinburgh/Gateway and Prospect Buildings. The Help Points included surfaces at standard height and lower level to ensure inclusivity.
We welcome feedback on Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Social Responsibility.
Please contact our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Manager, justine.gillespie@sunderland.ac.uk or,
the Student Union LGBTQ+ Officer at yoursu@sunderland.ac.uk.