What role do universities have in disability inclusion?

Once a year, disabled people like myself are invited to speak on panels and at events to raise awareness for International Day of People with Disabilities. It’s an opportunity that we seize with both hands. Not least of all, because it provides us with an ‘in’ to an otherwise unknown organisation and a chance to reach a new audience.

Needless to say, when I was approached by Universities UK (UUK) a few weeks ago to join the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion panel at the Marketing and communications in higher education conference, I jumped at the chance.

UUK’s tagline is ‘140 universities, One voice.’ Or, if you flip it around and see things from my perspective, it means that one voice can reach 140 universities.

And why is that important?

Well, firstly, it would be a logistical nightmare to organise talks and panels with 140 separate institutions. But why is it vital for disability activists like myself to access universities in the first place?

I think we can all agree that university is an important place for the development of young people. I could go into more detail, but I think that’s a bit of a no-brainer. What I want to focus on is how significant it is for young disabled people.

I became disabled at the age of 28. I fell 60 feet and sustained a spinal injury while trying to escape the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel during the Mumbai Terror Attack in 2008. I then spent eight months in hospital, learning how to manage my injury so that I could live an independent life.

The thing is, while they teach you fundamental techniques to help manage bodily functions, as well as ways to transfer in and out of your wheelchair, they don’t teach you how to be disabled. This is something you learn for yourself just by existing. It takes courage to leave the house. And it takes resilience to face the never-ending myriad of obstacles, barriers and negative attitudes.

In many ways, I consider myself lucky. In my role as a Peer Support Volunteer for the Spinal Injuries Association, I’ve helped much younger people come to terms with their spinal injury. These are young people, whose sense of self is not fully formed, and therefore struggle to see how they can live a fulfilling life. Young people, who still live at home, with all the support that encompasses. Young people, who want to venture out into the world but are afraid to take the next step.

That’s why university is such an important place.

For a young disabled person, their decision to leave home and attend university is wrapped up in so many ‘what ifs’. Their experience will be defined by factors that the average student won’t fathom. As such, universities have a crucial role to play in supporting a disabled student’s wellbeing and future path.

The question is, how does a university make adequate ‘reasonable adjustments’ when the range of disabilities is so broad and the barriers are so varied?

This is what I hope to explore and better understand while working with Universities UK. But the answer must include listening to disabled students and seeking guidance from disability organisations, because, as always: ‘one size does not fit all’!

Will Pike is a disability rights campaigner, public speaker, writer, filmmaker, and a disability consultant at the Hobbs Consultancy.