Disability History Month 2024 @ GSU 

Greenwich Students’ Union is proud to be taking part in Disability History Month (DHM), which runs from 14 November to 20 December. 

#Gym4Everyone 

We’re excited to announce that the University’s Sports & Active Life team are teaming up with GSU to offer free gym access to disabled students and staff during Disability History Month! 

The scheme runs throughout the entire month, 14 November to 20 December and is currently operating at the Greenwich & Avery Hill campuses. 

To sign up, email sports@gre.ac.uk and quote #Gym4Everyone. In your message, please: 

1. Tell us your requests and access needs - whether you need a tour, equipment guidance, or specific accommodations like a quieter environment, the Gym Buddy System is here to support you. 

1. Tell us when you can attend a gym induction - this is mandatory. 

1. Share anything else that is important for us to know in helping you access the gym. 

Survey 

Throughout the month we are also surveying disabled students and staff about #Gym4Everyone and your general experience of using the facilities. How do you currently use university gyms and how could the buddy system best work for you? 

Fill out the survey now. All responses are anonymous. Your feedback will help us to both deliver the current scheme and potentially implement permanent changes going forward. 

The survey closes on 11 December. Share the link with a friend! 

What’s on? 

In collaboration with the university, we have an exciting programme of free events and informative workshops coming up, several of which will be open to both staff and students. 

Highlights include a free film night at each campus, as well as a special webinar run by the Employability Service about how you can master the job market as a disabled student.  

To register and see the full programme online, visit our DHM 2024 online hub. 

How to get support 

How do I contact the University about getting support as a disabled student? 

Call 020 8331 7875 or email wellbeing@gre.ac.uk to start the registration process. The Student Wellbeing Service can make appropriate reasonable adjustments for your disability, dyslexia or other specific learning difficulty. The team currently delivers support in a blended way, with appointments offered online, face-to-face or by telephone. To learn more about registering and what evidence and info you need to provide, visit the website. 

What’s a Greenwich Inclusion Plan (GIP)? 

If you are a student with a diagnosis of a disability, mental health condition, specific learning difficulty and/or long-term medical condition, you are entitled to a GIP.  

A GIP is created by Wellbeing team outlining the reasonable adjustments, including exam arrangements, that you may need. It can also be used as evidence for an extenuating circumstances (EC) claim. Contact the student wellbeing service using the above details to get started. 

What is STAART? 

STAART stands for Support through *AccessAbility: Retention and Transition. It complements the academic support provided by the Wellbeing team. They run a wide range of activities and initiatives, including training STAART student ambassadors, hosting events/workshops and a regular podcast, as well as peer mentoring! Disabled and dyslexic students at the University of Greenwich can join up at any time on the website.  

What if I’m a disabled staff member? 

The University has an established Disability Staff Community for both professional and academic staff. The aim is to provide a safe, supportive and confidential forum for sharing experiences, networking and discussing issues. Email disability@gre.ac.uk or visit the webpage to get involved. 

What other support is out there? 

There’s plenty more for disabled students & staff to benefit from and engage with at the University of Greenwich. Check out the GSU website for more details or visit Report & Support. 

Did you know? 

Every year, DHM focuses on a theme. This year, it’s Disability, Livelihood and Employment. According to UK trade union USDAW: 

• One in five people of working age are disabled. 

• There are 14.6 million disabled people in the UK. 

• More people are reporting a long-term health condition or disability than eight years ago, mostly due to a growing number of mental health conditions. 

• The medical model still dominates, which wrongly holds disabled people responsible for their own condition rather than putting the responsibility on society and employers to remove barriers. 

Listen & Watch 

BBC Radio 4: What If Everyone Was Disabled? 

In this programme, Mat Fraser wonders how different things might be if the vast majority of people, rather than the minority, had a disability. He assesses how far we’ve come with accessibility and inclusivity, as well as considering what’s stopping us from going further. 

TEDx: Neurodiversity: The New Normal 

What exactly is neurodiversity? In this talk, speech therapist Cynthia Coupe answers this question, and looks at what happens when neurodivergent individuals are not supported by society. 

Questions, comments, and feedback 

We welcome your input! Please don’t hesitate to reach out about DHM 2024 by contacting our current Liberation Months coordinator Ivan Mouraviev at i.mouraviev@greenwich.ac.uk