About the Disability Network
Established in Autumn 2020, the WMS Disability Network consists of a group of students from across the MBChB and Health and Medical Sciences courses.
They share the goal of creating a supportive WMS community of students and staff identifying as disabled, affected directly or indirectly by disability, or by any health condition(s).
Our aims:
- Train staff on the needs and experiences of students with disabilities
- To then better support and educate students
- Educate students on disabilities
- How best to support their patients, and improve their skills as future doctors
- Expand and improve the content on disabilities in the MBChB curriculum
- Offer networking and support to students affected by any disability
- Form links with societies and organisations
- To help widen participation
- Liaise with WMS and Trusts to develop starting policies
- To promote equity and transparency
Following our research into disabled student outcomes, a large awarding gap and several adverse outcomes were identified (Revell, 2022). This was presented to WMS and wider university senior staff, who have undertaken multiple measures to examine the results and their causes further, and so increase accessibility and inclusivity for future students.
The Network continues to work on improving issues such as the transition to Trusts (our CCE mentor scheme) and accessibility of lecture materials (ensure availability of transcriptions and recordings).
The response has been fantastic, from management to individual teaching staff who have been keen to know how they can do better… thank you, and keep up the hard work!
Additionally, the first WMS Reasonable Adjustments Procedure and Policy, created by co-founder Kirsten Revell, is awaiting final management approval, with intent to trial implementation for '21 cohort entering Phase 3 (October '23).