On the 28th of September, the Disability and Mental Health Students Association (DAMSA) gathered in Chancellor’s Court, to protest the lack of accessibility at the University. 

One spokesperson for the group said that they had found an obstacle in promoting the protest as ‘around 20 posters were taken down’; they did not know by whom. The spokesperson said that this was a ‘deliberate suppression of disabled voices.’ During the protest some university staff came to speak with the protesters, one of whom was Jon Elsmore, Director of Student Affairs. As part of this role, Mr. Elsmore is responsible for the disabled student team. Mr. Elsmore did not attend the protest as an official spokesperson of the University.

A ‘deliberate suppression of disabled voices.’

The protesters shared some experiences and complaints with Mr. Elsmore. A major topic of discussion was that the group felt that seminars should be recorded as this would make them more accessible to disabled students. One protester said they had failed a module due to their inability to get to lectures or seminars because of the inaccessibility. Other students spoke of having difficulty due to their need for an assistance dog. One of the spokespeople for the group said they had to wait ‘some months for the University to accept my assistance dog.’

In response to the complaints students were giving, Mr. Elsmore suggested that the issues of inaccessibility were not being fed back to him, asking the protesters ‘Who did you tell?’ Throughout the discussion Mr. Elsmore referred to the location of the protest, which was the grass in Chancellor’s Court, as ‘the car park’, which a DAMSA spokesperson called ‘condescending’.

One suggestion for alleviating inaccessibility issues posited by the university was that disabled students voluntarily walk around campus to draw attention to areas of inaccessibility. However, spokespeople for DAMSA pointed out that this asks for ‘unpaid’ work from disabled students.

Representatives for the Guild of Students were also present at the event. Some issues the protesters raised within the Guild were issues with accessible toilets; the need to go to reception and ask for a Radar key was criticised. In addition, one protester pointed out that there is currently only one gender neutral toilet with step free access. 

They also drew attention to their issues with the lifts, the larger of which closes at 8pm which they felt could cause issues for those in wheelchairs. In addition, both lifts are closed during Fab ‘n’ Fresh and Sports Night, something they said makes this venue inaccessible to some disabled people.

There is currently only one gender neutral toilet with step free access

When asked for comment, a University of Birmingham spokesperson said, ‘We are passionate about supporting all members of our community who identify as having a disability, ensuring we do everything we can to remove any barriers to the full university experience for students, staff and visitors.

Our Student Disability Service provides expert assistance for students with disabilities, ensuring that the appropriate support can be accessed, enabling our students to be successful in their studies. Support offered includes liaising with academic departments, arranging exam accommodations and other reasonable adjustments as required. In addition, our Estates Accessibility officer works with colleagues across the University to review and address accessibility issues across our campus, buildings and facilities.

We welcome the work of DAMSA, who campaign to raise awareness of disability rights and experiences around campus, and in the local community. We have reached out to work more closely with this group, through our Guild of Students, to ensure our students’ voices continue to be heard and that our evolving campus continues to be a welcoming, accessible environment for all. Senior members of staff also attended the protest to listen to some of the students in attendance directly; the University is now following up with the representatives to hear their concerns fully and to work more closely together.’​

We are passionate about supporting all members of our community who identify as having a disability

Redbrick asked Mr. Elsmore for his response and he said:

‘During the extended discussion, students attending the protest raised a number of individual issues which I was not able to address, nor would it have been appropriate to do so, in the outdoor space. I did say that I was not able to address individual case work in a car park – and I probably said that twice – and at least once when a car was passing (because part of Chancellors Court is a car parking area).

I certainly did not mean that to be condescending in any way and I am very sorry if that was unintentionally the case. I came to visit the protest very specifically to reflect the importance which we attach to the representation of disabled students lived experience – and I spent (roughly) 45 minutes there to listen to the key issues that students were raising.

Secondly, in informal discussion with some members of the protest who had highlighted specific issues I did ask, who did you tell, as a way of trying to understand where any escalation of problems being faced by students were not getting through to the right person to be addressed – and not necessarily by me.  What was of interest to me here was any barriers students were facing in escalating problems so that we could find a smarter, faster way of finding solutions. I was interested to know who students would normally report any problems to (for example their tutor, wellbeing team, Student Disability Service) so I could understand where these reports were going –  and how we might then escalate and surface common and consistent problems, again so that we might identify any trends and potential solutions.

I found this informal discussion at the protest really helpful and interesting – and I am always keen to hear from students about where we can make improvements to their overall experience.I was able to take-away a few key points from listening to the students at the protest, for discussion with key colleagues, and I am looking forward to meeting with the lead representatives again.

In addition we have recently launched a call-out to the wider disabled student community to invite feedback, dialogue, consultation and contribution through a new, inclusive listening exercise –  the Disabled Student Contribution Group. We really want to hear from students, to understand the experience of being a Disabled Student and where we need to prioritise our attention to make improvements.’

We really want to hear from students, to understand the experience of being a Disabled Student

We also spoke to the guild who responded:

‘Here at the Guild of Students, we work hard to be accessible for all. Recently, we have received feedback from DAMSA who feel we could do better in making our building accessible for everyone, particularly in regards to our lifts, disabled bathrooms and the use of Radar keys. 

Lifts: 

We have two lifts within the Guild building; one located behind Reception and one located near the entrance to Subway. Both lifts access different parts of the building and our staff are happy to advise on which would be the best lift for you, depending on where you are planning to visit.  

We know that during our club nights, it can be difficult to gain access to the lifts to take you to different floors.  Your Officer Team are working with the Venues Team to find a suitable solution to maintain access to other floors via our lifts, while also preventing the overloading of these lifts which has previously happened during our club nights.  Overloading of the lifts is not only a health and safety hazard, but has previously caused the lifts to break down. 

Disabled & All Gender bathroom accessibility: 

Our Disabled and All Gender toilets can be accessed at all times the Guild building is open.  We are aware that during our club nights and the issues with lifts (mentioned previously), students needing to access our All Gender toilets on upper floors of the Guild building, would need to ask our Venues Team for access. Izzy, your AEO, has worked with the Venues Manager and Facilities Manager, and now the Disabled and All Gender toilet located at Reception is accessible during all club nights. 

We are also exploring the possibility to make our toilets on the first floor, into All Gender toilets. 

Radar keys: 

We are aware that some students have been asked for their Student ID when requesting a Radar key, similar to the process we use when students request a room key. We can confirm that anyone asking for a Radar key will no longer have to show their Student ID card. Your Officer Team have also stipulated that any student who has misplaced or lost their personal Radar key, can request one from Guild Reception, which can then be kept for their own use. 

Your Officer Team welcomes feedback from all students on any issues that may stop them from accessing the Guild building fully, so they can investigate and make positive changes on your behalf.  If you would like to talk to one of your Officers regarding any accessibility issues, please email them at FTO@guild.bham.ac.uk.’ 

Redbrick also reached out to DAMSA for comment, who said: ‘DAMSA has seen and heard damning testimony on the inaccessibility and institutional ableism experienced by its members at the University of Birmingham – our complaints are constantly overlooked, ignored and dismissed, and have been made to settle for a lower quality of education as a result. The dissatisfactory communication on the issues we face has left us feeling as though the only way to make our voices heard was to organise a protest.

‘We are currently holding discussions with the University over their broken and inconsistent policy, and hope this results in both immediate and long-term measures to improve disabled students’ access to education. We intend to continue to hold the University accountable throughout this process.’

---

Read more News articles here:

Dad’s Cosy Coat Project Proves to be a Massive Success

Young Conservative Faces Backlash After Calling Birmingham a ‘Dump’

UK Universities to be Fined Over Student Dropout and Graduate Employment Rates