Throughout the past term, I have been working hard to help disabled students at Cambridge. Here are some of the things I have been focusing on:
1. Library Drop-ins
In collaboration with the Libraries Accessibility Service, I organised two drop-in sessions for students to attend. These gave students the opportunity to bring along any questions about libraries and accessibility that they might have.
2. Careers Service Drop-Ins
I have been working with the Careers Service to spread the word about their Careers Drop-in Sessions. These are for anyone living with a disability to attend and receive support from the careers service, offered in-person and online.
3. Disabled Students: Online Group Chat
As a way to foster community and shared experiences, I worked to create a group chat for disabled students at Cambridge to join. The aim of the group is to tackle isolation, and I hope this continues into the future.
4. Council Meeting: Passed two motions
Over the past term, I have passed the following motions at student council meetings:
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Lobby for the creation of a solidarity fund to help disabled students who come from different countries with maintenance costs
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Lobby university and colleges for guaranteed accessible housing for disabled students, if they require it
5. Financial Assistance Committee: Indicative Cost of Living
I met and agreed with the university Head of Student Admissions and Access that, starting in 2026, to address funding differentials, additional granularity will be added to the joint SU/University questionnaire that is carried out every three years to draw out information on additional living costs for students with declared disabilities. This would help inform baseline cost information for applicants, and also inform decision making for hardship/financial assistance funding.
6. University Accommodation Service: Prioritisation of Disabled Students
I met the head of the University Accommodation Service and discussed the need to include disabled students among the UAS’s priority groups. She promised that this would be the case going forward.
With one term remaining, keep your eyes peeled to see what else the sabbs are working on!