All-staff talk: Disability and Neurodiversity Review

Our latest all-staff talk focused the University’s Disability and Neurodiversity Review.  The Review is looking to publish its final report by the end of April, and is led by Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education and Student Experience) Elizabeth McCrum and Dean for Diversity and Inclusion Allán Laville.    

Vice-Chancellor Robert Van de Noort led the session and was joined by Elizabeth and Al, as well as Staff Disability network Chair Yota Dimitriadi. Robert said it had been just over a year since he attended a meeting of the Staff Disability network. In response to the stories of how the pandemic had impacted network member’s lives, and to support our strategic work around our Community principle, the Disability and Neurodiversity Review was announced in February 2021.

Elizabeth spoke of how the Review is central to making our Universitya place where all colleagues can flourish, including those with disabilities, chronic and long-term illnesses and the neurodiverse. The review has explored and listened to the lived experiences of colleagues with disabilities in detail and will contain recommendations and proposals to improve their working lives.

Yota spoke of the results of focus groups and surveys as part of the review and underlined that for the Staff Disability network it is essential that there is “nothing about us without us.” Crucial to improving disabled colleagues lived working experiences was having empathetic and adaptive line managers, and the importance of disability awareness training and that all understand that “disabled colleagues are not a burden and diversity brings real benefits.”

Allán shared some of the potential recommendations of the review, including accessibility changes to the recruitment process and the provision of awareness training. He emphasised that the review team are still in the active listening stage and want to hear from colleagues, and encourages anyone to share their lived experiences by emailing diversity@reading.ac.uk.

More information and resources

• Full presentation from the all-staff talk
• Tailored Adjustment Plan - provides a framework for discussion in relation to reasonable adjustments for colleagues with disabilities.
• UoRLearn: Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Training – an overview of hidden disabilities and the sunflower scheme, followed by advice on how to help those wearing a sunflower lanyard or badge.
• Staff Disability Network

You can also access the recording on Microsoft Stream. 

Previous talks

• University's role in plans for development of Shinfield (Wednesday 2 February)
• Portfolio Review Pathway update (Thursday 13 January)
• A review of 2021 (Thursday 16 December)
• A conversation with University Council members (Wednesday 1 December)
• Environmental sustainability (Thursday 18 November)
• Stories of immersive teaching (Thursday 21 October)
• Update on USS pension reform (Tuesday 19 October)
• Strategic Foundations Programme update (Wednesday 6 October) 
• ‘2021/22 academic year – what to expect (Wednesday 8 September) 
• Path to our centenary (Wednesday 22 September)