DISABILITY Network | University of Bedfordshire

The Staff Disability Network is a voluntary group that aims to be an inclusive network open to all staff members, not only those with a disability, but also those with caring responsibilities, staff with restrictive and/or long-term health conditions, and/or those with an interest in disability issues (professional or otherwise).

The Network aims to provide such staff with a safe and confidential space to share experiences, opinions, information and support related to disability, and to support research and academic related practice.

We also aim to be the key point of contact for the University to consult with on policies and projects, and to ensure that our voice and representation positively influences the development and implementation of current and new University policies.

This will include providing representation and input during the University's Equality, Diversity and Inclusion committee meetings. We also wish to raise the profile of disabled staff and disability within the University and beyond.

The Committee Structure is Currently:

Dr Cathal Butler - Co-chair (Academic)
Mrs Emma Gill - Co-chair (Professional)
Dr Karen Chessum – Secretary
Mr Paul Haysom - Communications/Membership Officer
Ms Gayle Darlington - Acting Events Officer

The overall mission of the Staff Disability Network is to provide a network of mutual support and a collective voice for staff with disabilities, restrictive health conditions and caring responsibilities, so to support the development of a positive culture for such staff at the University of Bedfordshire. It's specific objectives are as follows:

To be an inclusive network open to all staff members, not only those with a disability, but also those with caring responsibilities, staff with restrictive and/or long-term health conditions, and/or those with an interest in disability issues (professional or otherwise).
To provide such staff with a safe and confidential space to share experiences, opinions, information and support related to disability, and to support research and academic related practice.
To be the key point of contact for the University to consult with on policies and projects, and to ensure that our voice and representation positively influences the development and implementation of current and new University policies. This will include providing representation and input during the University's Equality, Diversity and Inclusion committee meetings.
To raise the profile of disabled staff and the consciousness of disability-related issues within the University and beyond.

This is open to all staff members, not only those with a disability, but also those with caring responsibilities, staff with restrictive and/or long-term health conditions, and/or those with an interest in disability issues.

No need to book, you can just turn up! We look forward to see you :)

Our Coffee Catch-Up Schedule is:

Monday 27th November 2023 10am-11am
Tuesday 19th December 2023 2pm-3pm
Wednesday 31st January 2024 10am-11am
Thursday 29th February 2024 2pm-3pm
Friday 22nd March 2024 10am-11am

The link is available on our intranet. A staff account is required.

Join our monthly catch-up for all things disability related.

Whether it is to lend a sympathetic ear, ask a question or just sound off about something. All will be welcome to join us - even if it is just for a few minutes.

University staff can access full information and dates of upcoming events on the internal Staff Disability Network site (staff login needed).

Upcoming Staff Awareness and Knowledge Event

The Staff Disability Network's joint event with the LGBTQ+ Alliance.

On Tuesday 11th and Wednesday12^th July 2023, joint sessions were held between the Staff Disability Network and the Staff LGBTQ Alliance. The session was hosted by Alex and Cathal. The session focused specifically on intersectionalities between Gender and Disability.

A major focus of the session was exploring the underdiagnosis of autism in females, and the possible reasons for this. There was a specific focus on research around Masking/Social Camouflaging, which is one of the reasons cited in research for late diagnosis.

This provided for some interesting discussion about the need to conform, and the potential impact this can have on the person. There was also exploration of the term neurodiversity, and research highlighting the greater fluidity in gender identity of neurodiverse individuals.

The participants questions and experiences provided for an enriching and positive experience, and greater understanding.

University of Bedfordshire's Health and Wellbeing Week - 2023

The staff disability network contributed to the 2023 UoB Health and Wellbeing Week. We had members of our network and committee members making several presentations at this event.

Our first speaker was Emma on Tuesday 24th February from 2.00pm - 3.00pm. Emma's talk was on:

Neurodiversity in the Workplace, Lived Experience: Emma talks about her lived experience and challenge living a neuro diverse condition and celebrates her unique learning differences, talents and strengths. Staff are invited to hear and learn so as to create a more inclusive, supportive and understanding environment for all.

Our second speaker was Paul on Thursday 26th January 2.00pm - 3.00pm. Pauil's talk was on:

Visual Impairment at Work: living with multiple eye conditions and gradual sight loss and the challenges visually-impaired staff have in the workplace.

Our third and fourth speakers are Kathryn and Gayle on Thursday 26th January from 3:00pm - 4pm.

Kathryn's talk was on:

Learning from lived Experiences: Life with disability, Kathryn's experiences and the challenges with coping with an autistic son alongside working.

Gayle's talk was on:

Learning from lived Experiences: Life with disability, Gayle's experience of working with a physical disability.

Staff Awareness and Knowledge Building Event

We are organising a series of disability awareness and knowledge-building event for staff starting in September 2021 when staff have returned to campus.

These events involve an internal member of this Network or invited external person talking about their disability-related experiences for 20 minutes, followed by a 20-minute live Q&A session.

The aim is for university staff to hear about these experiences, be posed some reflective questions, and ultimately to become more aware, knowledgeable and sensitive to such issues.

We would welcome expressions of interest from any staff to present in future events.

If you are interested in joining us please email: sdncommittee@beds.ac.uk

This was the first in a series of staff disability awareness and knowledge events.

Gayle delivered her presentation on 22nd September 2021. She presented for approx. 20 minutes and welcomed audience questions.

Gayle's talk is available via our staff intranet. A staff login required.

Our speaker for our second in the series of Staff Awareness and Knowledge Building was Charmaine. Charmaine’s talk titled ‘Hidden disabilities’, was our network's first blended event.

Charmaine presented for approx. 20 minutes and welcomed many audience questions.

Our speaker for our third in the series of Staff Awareness and Knowledge Building was by Dr Gareth Farmer. Gareth's talk titled 'Neurodivergence' - What is it and why should universities care? An Autistic Academic's Perspective’, was a virtual event.

Dr Gareth Farmer presented for approx. 20 minutes and welcomed questions from the audience.

Our speaker for our fourth in the series of Staff Awareness and Knowledge Building was Emma. Emma's talk was on Wednesday 4th May 2022, and titled ‘The intersections of different disabilities: opening up about my experiences as a working professional with chronic physical illnesses'.

Emma presented for approx. 20 minutes and welcomed many questions from the audience of nearly 30.

Sunflower Lanyards

Sunflower lanyard

The Staff Disability Network has obtained a supply of sunflower lanyards for staff with a disability.

This may be particularly useful if you have a disability (especially a hidden disability) and/or if you cannot cope with the University's current one-way system, perhaps because of mobility issues or raised levels of anxiety.

If you wish to register for a lanyard, please contact Cathal Butler (using your University of Bedfordshire staff email) at cathal.butler@beds.ac.uk and she can arrange for you to obtain one.