VOTE #1 SU4U

My name is Eoin Kelly, I’m a 2nd year Digital Film Production student, and I’m running for Disability Officer.

 

Disability Officer is an interesting role, to say the least. In my opinion, it embodies the spirit of diversity and acceptance that is a shared ethos by many students within the University. It is also unique in the fact that it covers a broad spectrum of experience: from physical disability, to mental disability, to mental illness and so forth. My background is one of mental health: I have worked for several years with Mind in Camden on different projects, and have lived experience of mental ill health personally. From this experience, I hope I am able to draw a strong personal sense of empathy and, through my own personal trials and tribulations surrounding disabled students allowance, a common thread of understanding on what needs to progress within the University and and Union.

 

IMPROVED CAMPUS ACCESSIBILITY
I aim to improve the level of accessibility to the campuses and their facilities. This includes increasing the ease of access to things such a lift keys and other methods of stairless access, and general support for students with limited mobility.

 

IMPROVED LIAISON BETWEEN DISABILITY & DYSLEXIA OFFICE AND THE UNION
A body operates better when each hand knows what the other is doing. I will aim to improve the relationship and liaison between the University’s disability and dyslexia office with the Union, so as that support for students can be ran in tandem between the two.

 

IMPROVED ACCESS ON THE INTERCAMPUS BUS
Currently, there is no access or support for students with limited mobility onto the inter­campus bus service. In lieu of this, public transport is the only other alternative. This bizarre penalisation of students with limited mobility has gone relatively unquestioned, but the added cost of public transport fares and/or the simple inconvenience is unignorable. I aim to improve this situation by discussing options on inter­campus bus services for students with limited mobility.

 

MORE ROOM FOR DISCUSSION AND OPEN FORUM FOR DISABLED STUDENTS
I aim to improve the disabled students network by creating an open, easy to access service for advocacy and a forum for discussion for disabled students and issues they feel affect them. One person being disenfranchised of their ability to input is one too many, and I want networking opportunities of disabled students not to be put on a back­bench or hidden on a dusty pamphlet.

 

PROGRESS ON FITNESS TO STUDY POLICY
Most other Universities offer a ‘Fitness to Study’ policy. This policy is a procedural set of actions that come into effect generally when a student’s ability to study and/or the ability to study of those around them is seriously compromised. The University of Greenwich has no Fitness to Study policy, and this rather key aspect of student wellbeing is sorely missed. I will aim to lobby the University to introduce a fitness to study policy.

 

RAISE AWARENESS OF MENTAL HEALTH
Mental Health is a commonly overlooked aspect of the Disability and Dyslexia service that University offers. I would aim to not only raise awareness of Mental Health in general, but also lobby the University to sign the Time to Change pledge. Everyone’s mental health is important, and no one should be overlooked. 

 

VOTE #1 EOIN KELLY

VOTE #1 SU4U

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