Mental Wealth

Hey everyone

I went to a meeting about the mental wealth project, and there were some interesting propositions and I would like your feedback on it! If you could spare a few minutes to read about it.

Basically the mental wealth project is a campaign to promote campus mental health and wellbeing. It is for all students with an interest in mental health. It is running in universities in England, the project started in Leeds after a group Mind Matters was set up in 2008 and was so successful that they decided to set the project up. This seems like a brilliant opportunity to create something positive. This project will help to reduce stigma of mental health problems, run campaigns, demonstrate the relevance of mental health to all and loads more.

One of my main concerns (please say if you disagree with this), some students with mental health problems may feel threatened by students such as those studying psychology that they may be analyzed. 

One of the things I envisage with the disabled students association is it to be a safe space for students with physical, mental health, and learning disabilities. A main problem for increasing the involvement in the group from students with mental health problems is people may not necessarily see themselves as disabled.

I believe that both of these group would work well together, but work differently, one would be primarily focused on campaigns, and the other to provide a safe space.

But how do we Disabled Students Association become a stronger group that actually works and represents students?

Please email be with any suggestions or comments and if you want to get involved with any of these things. 

Claire x

Hey everyone

Just to let you know there is an event for those who are deaf, put on by deaf plus. I have attached the leaflet below. If you are reading this and any of your friends would be interested please pass this information to them!

Also, this BBC Panorama video is interesting to watch

It shows that in many places across the country people are suffering abuse and threats for no other reason that their disability.  And though the law has got tough on people who abuse others on the grounds of their race or religion, the attitude towards often low-level but continued abuse of disabled people seems far behind, the programme found.

Claire x

 

Hey everyone!

Basically this week has been slightly unproductive in terms of actually getting things done, but I've set the wheels in motion and have began learning my way around the guild. Been having discussions with the VP welfare about my aims etc and how we should go about doing them.

I have been invited to the LBGTQ coffee afternoon to talk about the LBGTQ and disability's, the invitation is extended to disabled students who would like to join in this discussion. It will be taking place on the 24th of February between 12:00 and 15:00 and the location is to be confirmed -I will update you on this next week.

Also someone mentioned to me that wheelchair access to Pritchatts Road was difficult to buildings such as elms road, so I decided I would have a little wander around. Basically there is no ramp by the sports field, so one person said to me it took 40 minutes to get to Elm's road as they had to leave campus, go down St. Vincent Drive and then onto Pritchatts Road, however these roads are fairly busy with hospital traffic making it dangerous. However,if you go into the Muirhead tower then out the other side there is a lift that you can go down to get to the car park. However this may all seem a bit tedious, but may save a considerable length of time is you are going to this part of campus.

Also, I have started to think about strengthening the Disabled Students Association, which as many of you may know has been inactive for a number of years. I aim to ensure that it is a welcoming and accessible environment, that does a diverse number of events and campaigns representing everyone. Basically, its going to take a little while to really take off the ground, and I will work closely with the committee to make sure there is something for everyone. So basically, if you want to get involved please email me!!

Claire

Hey everyone
I have just been elected as your new DSO, thanks so much to everyone who voted. This position has been inactive for far too long jeopardising the welfare of disabled students at the University of Birmingham.

OK so there’s so much stuff I would love to do when I am in office to represent disabled students but unfortunately due to time constraints I won’t be able to do everything that I want to. But some of the things I intend to do:

• Represent people who are getting inadequate note taking support and other assistants funded by the DSA- I have submitted a motion for the February Guild Council to ensure that the guild acts on the many comments I have received about the lack of support. I am hoping that the university will utilise the facilities of the job zone to advertise these jobs. I checked in the job zone and there is no advertising for these jobs. Many students may apply for their DSA in later months so note takers are needed throughout the year not just the beginning of term. If anyone has an issue with academic support workers please email me, it would be good to have a good idea of the number of students affected by this problem.

• Making guild council accessible to deaf students- I have submitted another motion so that guild council can be accessible for all and ensure that every student has the potential to have their voice heard. I have suggested that a hearing loop gets put in place, however if this is not possible that we look into other methods of making guild council accessible to deaf students.

• Strengthen the disabled student’s association- in recent times this association has not been active. I hope to change this by working closely with members on this association to make people more aware of the association and what it does and can do for students. It would be brilliant to have regular events that encourage students to come and discuss their views, have a safe space to socialise with peers who may be experiencing similar difficulties to their own.

Hopefully I will have time to do more things but these are the things that I would hope to do through my time in office.

So thanks everyone for reading, and please feel free to comment or send me an email.
Claire xx