Devon students to advise Government on disability rights and changes
The University of Plymouth students are involved in a major new piece of work
Students at the University of Plymouth are helping to lead a new study looking at disability support.
They're part of a new national advisory project with Disability Rights UK - which will advise the Government on changes that are needed.
Dr Suanne Gibson, Associate Professor of Inclusive Education at the University of Plymouth and the project’s principal investigator, said: “Approximately 20% of home students in the UK are disabled.
"Every one has an individual academic and personal profile which, if accessed and fully responded to, offers the university expert knowledge regarding their anticipatory duties and reasonable adjustments. Establishing inclusive practices and provisions from day one of a student’s degree is key to ensuring their university experience is a positive one. Through this project, our student co-researchers and participants will work alongside academics, support staff and other organisations to co-create and deliver sustained models of inclusive practice in higher education.”
Kamran Mallick, CEO of Disability Rights UK, added: “Disabled students should not have to fight for the support they need to thrive in higher education. Too often, accessing the right adjustments and inclusive learning environments is a struggle, creating unnecessary barriers to success.
"This initiative is vital to ensuring that universities embed inclusion from the outset rather than treating it as an afterthought. By placing disabled students at the heart of shaping national guidance, this project recognises their expertise to drive real, lasting change. It is essential that disabled students have a say in decisions that affect their education, and that universities listen, learn, and take action to ensure equitable access and support. We are proud to be part of this work to create a higher education system where every disabled student can access, participate, and succeed on an equal footing. A truly inclusive university experience benefits not just disabled students, but the entire student community, making education richer, more diverse, and more innovative for everyone.”
Mette Anwar-Westander, Chief Executive of Disabled Students UK, said: "This initiative is a crucial step in embedding student-led insights into concrete interventions. At Disabled Students UK we know that the most effective interventions are those grounded in the lived realities of disabled students, and we are proud to bring our expertise to this project. Through our consulting work with universities, non-profits, regulators, and researchers, we help ensure that policies and practices are not just well-intentioned, but truly effective. We look forward to supporting the participating institutions in implementing meaningful, lasting change."
The Addressing Disparity of Provision project has been developed in response to guidance from the Office for Students, which aims to ensure all disabled students feel their academic and personal support needs are equitably and appropriately catered for throughout their studies.
Running until February 2027, it aims to curate the first government set of student-led disability guidance including Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programmes for academic and support staff working in UK universities.
The project is being led by the University of Plymouth in partnership with the University of Wolverhampton the University of Birmingham, senior representatives from Disabled Students UK and Disability Rights UK, and an advisory panel including disability support and students’ union staff.