Past event
Successfully attending higher education has become increasingly crucial for better work and life prospects. However, disabled students are likely to take longer to complete a degree (OfS, 2020a), demonstrate higher levels of dropout rates (Hector, 2020) and lower levels of satisfaction with their studies (OfS, 2020b), compared to their non-disabled counterparts. This webinar aimed to open a space to voice accounts, discuss provisions, suggest policy strategies, and develop theory to support effective change to inclusion policy and practice in higher education.
By drawing upon contributions to the BERA Blog Special Series ‘A New Ecology of Higher Education: Disability, Access, Participation, and Belonging’ first, and by stimulating discussion in breakout rooms later, the webinar seeked to actively connect a variety of stakeholders in creating universities as inclusive spaces for disabled students and academic communities alike, starting from disabled students’ voices and experiences of higher education.
| 10:00 | BERA Introduction Janet Hoskin and Kate Mawson |
| 10:05 | Opening Suanne Gibson and Francesca Peruzzo |
| 10:15 | Going back is not a choice: Lessons from the pandemic Mette Anwar-Westander |
| 10:25 | Creating the conditions for inclusion: How the Writing Café is facilitating accessibility for disability through mutuality and empowerment Cara Baer |
| 10:35 | Co-developing inclusive and accessible e-learning resources: Placing disabled and neurodiverse student voices at the centre of our practice Katie Stote |
| 10:45 | Speaker Q&A |
| 11:00 | Break |
| 11:15 | Breakout rooms |
| 11:45 | Feedback |
| 12:05 | Conclusions and actions moving forwards |
| 12:15 | Event close |
Watching a BERA Virtual event
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This special issue of the BERA Blog aims to push higher education towards a new ecology that embraces the values and voices of disabled students, and places inclusion and equity at the forefront...
Research Fellow at University of Birmingham
Dr Francesca Peruzzo is a Research Fellow in Educational Equity and Policy at the Education Equity Initiative, University of Birmingham. Her research interests lie in the intersection between politics, policy, education governance and inclusion,...
Founding Director at Disabled Students UK
Mette Anwar-Westander (pronoun indifferent) is the founding director of Disabled Students UK (disabledstudents.co.uk), recognised by Shaw Trust as one of the most influential disabled-led organisations in the UK. DSUK uses an evidence-based...
Doctoral Teaching Assistant at University of Plymouth
Cara Baer is a PhD student, lecturer and researcher at the University of Plymouth (UK). Her research interests are in equitable opportunities within higher education and society, particularly through a social justice lens. Cara’s doctoral study...
Employability and Placements Advisor at University of Exeter
Katie Stote is an Employability and Placements Advisor at the University of Exeter’s Business School, where she leads the accredited “Business Internships and Placements” module. Through her role, Katie supports over 150 students, offering...
Associate Professor at University of East London
Dr Janet Hoskin is Associate Professor of Education at the University of East London, teaching on undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. Her research interests include exploring the lives and experiences of disabled children and adults and...
Professor of Education at Leeds Trinity University
Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood and Special Education at University of East London
Louise Arnold is a senior lecturer in Early Childhood and Special Education at the University of East London where she teaches on the MA Special Educational Needs and across the undergraduate Early Childhood programmes. Her PhD involves parents,...
Principal Lecturer at Nottingham Trent University
Dr Kate Mawson has significant teaching experience across a range of institutions and has worked in Secondary and Higher Education institutions since 2002. Kate is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a Founding Fellow of the...
Research Fellow at Birmingham City University
Dr Julia Everitt is a Post-Doctoral Researcher at Birmingham City University (BCU) and has worked in higher education as a researcher since 2014. Julia was awarded her doctorate in 2018 and as a researcher has been involved in over 30 research...
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This special issue of the BERA Blog aims to push higher education towards a new ecology that embraces the values and voices of disabled students, and places inclusion and equity at the forefront...
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This special issue of the BERA Blog aims to push higher education towards a new ecology that embraces the values and voices of disabled students, and places inclusion and equity at the forefront...