DISABLED STAFF NETWORK Dr Hamied Haroon & Mrs Melanie Sharpe Co-Chairs DSNetwork@manchester.ac.uk | @UoMDSN

Training Professional in IT Services melanie.sharpe @manchester.ac.uk Day Jobs! Hamied Melanie Postdoctoral Research Associate in Biomedical Magnetic Resonance Imaging hamied.haroon @manchester.ac.uk Training Professional in IT Services melanie.sharpe @manchester.ac.uk

www.manchester.ac.uk Founded in Oct 2004 by merging VUM & UMIST Largest single-site university in the UK More than 12,000 members of staff – one of the largest employers in Greater Manchester The biggest student community: a total of more than 40,000 students from the UK, EU and beyond Disability declared by 8.9% of staff and 11.6% of students www.manchester.ac.uk

DISABLED STAFF NETWORK background

2006: The Beginning University obliged to produce Disability Equality Scheme under the Disability Discrimination Act E&D and DASS (Disability Advisory and Support Service) brought together University staff who declared a disability to consult on the Scheme Birth of our Disabled Staff Network …

2007 onwards DSN gains independence! 2007: Hamied elected as Chair 2013: Melanie elected Co-Chair with Hamied Continued support from E&D and DASS Confidential list on University’s ListServ Currently 118 subscribers: disabled and allies Intranet page maintained by E&D Aims and Purpose ...

Overall Aim To provide a “voice” within the University for disability equality Open to all members of staff at the University who either consider themselves to have an impairment or long term health/medical condition are interested in disability equality

Aims Raise awareness around disability equality Promote disability equality through active involvement and consultation on the University’s plans, strategies, policies and guidance Provide the opportunity to share experiences about working at the University Provide support, advice and guidance, or signposting, where appropriate Work with the E&D Team to develop effective solutions to any problems encountered To work closely with other projects, initiatives, departments and organisations which raise awareness around disability equality

Purpose Progress issues relating to disability in The University of Manchester Offer mutual support to disabled staff in the University and signposting to any staff member to the appropriate resources where necessary Act as a channel for communication and consultation between staff members and Senior Management via the E&D Team within the University Work with the University and E&D Team in reviewing information which suggests any direct or indirect forms of discrimination faced by disabled staff in the University and to share the lessons learnt from such cases Where appropriate, to support and work closely with other Networks in higher education institutions in the North West

Staff Network Groups Black and Minority Ethnic Christian Disabled International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans Muslim Retirement Peer Support Returning from Maternity Leave Support Caring Responsibilities Peer Support Women in IT Women in Life Sciences Women in Science, Engineering & Technology Women Professors

Equality & Diversity Forum Chaired by Associate Vice-President for Social Responsibility Deputy President & Deputy Vice Chancellor Registrar & Secretary Director of HR Director of Estates Director of Student Life Head of E&D Head of DASS Chairs of Staff Networks Interfaith Rep Students’ Union Women’s Officer Students’ Union Welfare Officer Reps of Campus Trades Unions

How do we add value?

Activity David Ruebain ECU Chief Executive 2011 Disabled Staff Network Helen Carr UCU National Head of Equality Kate Green MP (Lab) Shadow Minister for Women & Equalities 2012 Jane Cordell & Hormoz Ahmadzadeh Result CIC Directors 2013 Formal meetings 3 times a year, often involving a guest speaker Busy agenda, including discussion, consultation and promotion of initiatives Refreshments and Palantype (live speech-to-text reporting) provided Denise Davidson volunteered as DSN Secretary Social get-togethers for members to meet-up and have a friendly chat On and off campus, lunchtimes and after-work – Christmas meals most popular! Loan Nguyen volunteered as DSN Socials Coordinator Representation on University committees and input on policy & practice University E&D Forum and Disability Consultative Group E&D Committees in Central Areas and Academic Faculties/Schools Champion in University Senior Management Team in 2012 Professor Clive Agnew, Vice President for Teaching, Learning & Students Working with other parts of the University Disabled Students and University of Manchester Students’ Union Counselling Service, Estates, Staff Learning & Development SPORT, Conferences & Venues, The Manchester Museum, The Whitworth Local Branches of UCU, UNITE and UNISON

Achievements 2008: Gained support from the University’s President & Vice Chancellor to be one of the first universities in the country to provide dedicated advice and support for disabled staff and managers in DASS!

Professor Clive Agnew and Karen Machin signing the Pledge Achievements 2013: University signs Time To Change Pledge and Action Plan Annual Time To Talk events, Workshops and Talks around Mental Health for staff and students Professor Clive Agnew and Karen Machin signing the Pledge

Result CIC won the NDA 2015 Award! Achievements 2014: Result CIC provide “Achieve Your Potential” Development Programme and one-to-one Coaching specifically for disabled staff Rerun in 2015 and 2016 Result CIC won the NDA 2015 Award!

Achievements 6th June 2014: “What Are We Hiding?” – the first National Conference of the UK’s Disabled Workforce, held at The University of Manchester Focussed on hidden disabilities and the hidden contribution of disabled people to the economy and society Scenes from the Conference and the University Student Ambassadors who helped out

Achievements 3rd December 2014 and 2015: Celebration of the International Day of Disabled People Jointly with the Disabled Staff Forum at Manchester Metropolitan University, our E&D teams and Students’ Unions UoM-MMU IDDP Celebration 2015 MMU-UoM IDDP Celebration 2014

Coming up … 3rd November 2016: Lord Morris of Manchester Memorial Lecture – the first annual lecture focussing on disability equality at The University of Manchester In collaboration with Alf’s family, Mike Kane MP, Manchester Trades Union Council and the NW TUC Disability Forum Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE will be our inaugural speaker! Baroness “Tanni” Grey-Thompson DBE DL Baron “Alf” Morris of Manchester AO QSO PC (1928 – 2012)

Engaging outside the network

Communications UniLife April 2015 incite Autumn 2015 University of Manchester StaffNet Announcement PossAbility Magazine 2013

Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell presenting the award Recognition 2015: The University of Manchester’s first ever Making A Difference Awards for Social Responsibility Melanie and Hamied WON the Award for “Outstanding Contribution to Equality & Diversity (Staff)” Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell presenting the award

At the awards night with Paul Marks-Jones Recognition 2015: Inclusive Networks Inaugural Awards Our Network was FINALIST as “Health & Wellbeing Network of the Year” The University of Manchester was also a FINALIST as an “Investor in Network Groups” At the awards night with Paul Marks-Jones

Next steps

Going Forward Addressing issues around disclosure of disability and increasing involvement of members in Network meetings and events Reaching out to colleagues who do not have access to email or work in “satellite” areas Looking at a charter mark or standard for disability, appropriate for our University Working more closely with other staff networks

nadsn-uk.org | @nadsn_uk Connecting Disabled Staff Networks across the UK nadsn-uk.org | @nadsn_uk

The Beginning Hamied met with Chris Brill, Deb Viney and Nicki Martin in London on 8th May 2014 to discuss his ideas for a “Super-Network” Launched at the “What Are We Hiding?” National Conference on 6th June 2014 at The University of Manchester, in the session/workshop on Disabled Staff Networks

Who We Are An umbrella “super-network” that brings together disabled staff networks, groups and fora across the United Kingdom and beyond Focussed on institutions of higher and further education (Universities and Colleges) Open to any interested organisations (public, private, social or voluntary) A collective platform to share experiences, good practice and to examine challenges and opportunities

And Now 97 subscribers to NADSN JISCMail list Disabled staff at 47 different organisations represented (mostly universities) A Founding Steering Group of 30 leading disabled staff from all parts of the UK Supported by the Equality Challenge Unit (ECU) and the National Association of Disability Practitioners (NADP)

Activities 4th March 2015: NADSN Conference at the University of Chester – part of its Diversity Festival – and first NADSN FSG Meeting 22nd July 2015: Workshop on “NADSN – Experiences from our Disabled Staff Networks across the UK” at the NADP International Conference in Manchester 6th October 2015: Invitation from Kate Nash OBE to attend #PurpleSpace Launch Party! 22nd April 2016: NADSN Conference at the University of Bradford

More Information Please find out more about NADSN by visiting http://nadsn-uk.org/ To join NADSN please go to the “Contact Us” page (http://nadsn-uk.org/contact-us/)