This is a plain text manifesto which has been designed to be accessible for all, but if you require it in a different format, don't hesitate to get in touch at nathan.parsons@warwick.ac.uk!

Plain text version without background colour

Nathan for Disabled Students' Officer

From (all our) experience, comes change

Who I am

• Warwick student since 2010 (UG, taught PG, and now PhD).
• Previously part of Student Council as Chair of PG Exec.
• Member of the University LGBTUA+ Taskforce since 2015.
• Member of the University Equality and Diversity Committee in 2017/18.
• Warwick Pride exec member for 6 years.
• Personal experience navigating the University and its processes as a student with a disability.

Accessibility reporting

• The University (and SU) needs a simple system for reporting and logging accessibility issues.
• Initially launching this through the SU, I will use this to work with relevant departments to fix both the immediate issue and the structural issues that created it.

Medical certificates

• The cost of medical certificates has doubled since 2015, placing an undue burden on students with disabilities.
• Sometimes the University demands them when they aren't necessary, and when they are, the University should cover the cost.

Temporary withdrawal

• Processing temporary withdrawal has been known to take over a month. If something is delaying our application, we need to know about it.
• The process of temporary withdrawal should be quicker, less stressful, and we should be kept better informed throughout.

Seamless processes

• Different areas of the University fail to communicate effectively with each other and with students, burdening us with additional stress.
• I want to collate your experiences of these failures and lobby the University to address these failings.

Flexible study

• There are currently limited options for flexible study at Warwick, which disproportionately affects students with disabilities.
• I want to work with the University to explore offering flexible modes of study for all courses. This could include taking a reduced CAT load per year, or the option to study remotely where appropriate.
• Ensure that flexible modes of study are offered prior to students being forced to take temporary withdrawal.

Waiting times

• Getting a Wellbeing Support Services appointment can take up to 9 weeks.
• Given that Warwick has a 10 week term, this is clearly an unreasonable amount of time to expect students to wait for an appointment.
• There's a need for increased staff capacity for all services in Wellbeing Support Services, including Disability Services.

Want to get in touch?

• Find me at the Candidate Coffee session in the Graduate on Wednesday 27th, between 12:40pm and 1:20pm.
• Email me at nathan.parsons@warwick.ac.uk