1. DISABLED STAFF NETWORK
Dr Hamied Haroon & Mrs Melanie Sharpe
Co-Chairs
| @UoMDSN

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

3. 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

5. DISABLED STAFF NETWORK
background

6. 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 …

7. 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 ...

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. How do we add value?

14. 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

15. 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!

16. 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

17. 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!

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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)

21. Engaging outside the network

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

23. 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

24. 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

25. Next steps

26. 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 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

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

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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)

31. 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

32. More Information
Please find out more about NADSN by visiting
To join NADSN please go to the “Contact Us” page (