Disability History Month: What's happening at LJMU and support available

Image: The Umbrella Project: an installation of over 80 umbrellas in the Student Life Building to raise awareness and celebrate the umbrella term of neurodiversity, which includes ADHD, autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia and Tourette’s syndrome. 

Disability History Month runs between 16 November and 16 December and is an opportunity to reflect on the past and create positive change for the present and the future.  

How to get involved in Disability History Month at LJMU? 

This year’s DHM theme is “Disability, Children and Youth."

LJMU is hosting an event for students and staff focused on embracing neurodiversity particularly in the context of higher education.

We’ll be addressing:

• What is neurodiversity?
• What does a diagnosis mean?
• What are reasonable adjustments?
• How else can we support students and colleagues? 

Students and staff are invited to the event: Embracing Neurodiversity: Building an Inclusive Future in Higher Education, on 13 December, at the Student Life Building, rooms UG16 and UG17, for an afternoon of learning, discussion, and networking as we explore inclusive strategies for building an inclusive future for all in Higher Education. 

Staff and student attendees will have the opportunity to hear from a fantastic line up of speakers, sharing their own knowledge and personal experiences, to gain a deeper understanding of neurodiversity and reflect on how to ensure we can create neuroinclusive environments in universities, fostering a sense of belonging for all. 

There will be a dedicated time for an interactive question and answer session as well as an opportunity to network. Find out more information and register. 

The Student Futures team is also hosting two events for all students:

Students are invited to the Talking to employers about mental health online event, on Wednesday 22 November, online, 4pm to 5.30pm. 

Students from any programme or year group are welcome to join this cross-university event taking place as part of Disability History Month.  Hear from two PwC representatives discussing disclosure of mental health challenges from the employer side of the conversation and two speakers who have mental health challenges sharing their own experiences of being open about this during the recruitment process and in the workplace.  Find out more information and book a place.

Students are invited to Disability History Month: Entrepreneurship and Disability event on Wednesday 6 December, 4pm to 5.30pm, online.

This event, for disabled and neurodivergent students, will provide insights and advice on starting a business or a side-hustle. Come along to hear from successful disabled graduates who will share their stories on starting their own businesses and will provide advice on how you can maximise your chances of success as an entrepreneur.

Speakers include:
• Hardeep Rai, Kaleidoscope – Founder and Managing Director of the Kaleidoscope Group of Companies. Providing advice, support and mentoring for disabled people starting their own business.
• Mary Baxter, Light Blue Life Coaching
• Martyn Sibley, Purple Goat Agency - Martyn started the already award winning Purple Goat agency. In just three years they're working with multinational companies and the best disabled content creators. Giving representation to disabled people in advertising like never before.

Please note that this will be a cross-university session, with students from different universities in attendance.

There will be time for Q&A at the event. If you require any adjustments for the event, or if you would like to send a question for the Q&A by email, please send it to Jennie (j.l.tannett@ljmu.ac.uk)  by Monday 4 December at 5pm.

Book a place at the Entrepreneurship and Disability event.

Support available for disabled or neurodiverse LJMU students: 

Disability History Month is also a time to shine a light on all the support available at LJMU. Students can access support through Student Advice and Wellbeing and can access a range of careers and employability resources co-created with disabled and neurodivergent students from Student Futures.

You can also join the Disabled and Neurodiverse Students’ Community at John Moores Students’ Union. The community hub has been set up for any student who has any disability or self-identifies as a disabled person, or a person with a disability. This includes those with hidden disabilities like Crohn’s, neurodivergent conditions such as autism, and mental health conditions. By becoming a member, students can take an active role in improving students’ experience and building a sense of belonging at LJMU. 

Support available for LJMU staff and managers: 

Staff who have a disability/ are neurodiverse can join the Disability Staff Network. The staff network organises meetings and events for disabled staff at LJMU and for those who support them.  

To learn more about disability and support, whether you are a personal tutor, a manager or a staff member in a different role, you can access Diversity and Inclusion workshops, events and training sessions. For more information on accessibility at LJMU, you can visit our webpages with information about LJMU buildings, or access AccessAble. 

Are you organising your own event at LJMU to mark Disability History Month?  

Let us know about an event you are organising as a staff member or as a student by emailing equality@ljmu.ac.uk or get in touch if you have further questions.