Where & When

Location: Virtual

Date/Time: Tuesday 15th June - 09:30-16:30

Delivered by: Advance HE

Book here (this is a paid event): https://www.advance-he.ac.uk/programmes-events/calendar/disability-colloquium-improving-support-disabled-staff-higher-education

Details

With a discernible and necessary focus on support offered to disabled students throughout COVID-19, higher education must ensure that the differential impact of the pandemic on disabled staff is also being considered. While not specific to higher education, there have been several articles and studies commissioned during the pandemic which highlight additional barriers to support for disabled staff; ranging from a lack of reasonable adjustments implemented in the home, to disabled employees being put in an ‘impossible’ position of having to choose between keeping their job or staying safe.

Through their Disability Staff Networks, a number of institutions have liaised with staff to better understand the unique challenges created by the pandemic, and to find out what measures could be put into place to ensure inclusive and accessible work environments. The University and College Union also published specific advice for disabled staff, and stressed the employer’s duty to implement reasonable adjustments, as well as providing employees with assistive technology to allow them to continue working safely from home.

While COVID-19 has undoubtedly brought about further additional challenges and barriers for disabled staff, the topic of support for disabled staff in higher education precedes this global event. In 2008, Equality Challenge Unit (now Advance HE) published the findings of a survey investigating disclosure and support issues for disabled staff in higher education. The research found that there were notable issues around opportunities and encouragement to disclose, as well as an inconsistency between the expertise in supporting disabled students and the level of advice and support provided for staff. No doubt there will be a number of lessons learnt from the experiences of disabled employees during the pandemic, which may go on to shape more inclusive work environments in future.