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Disabled Staff Network to elect new leaders

12 Jul 2013

The Disabled Staff Network – an active group of almost 100 members from all parts of the campus – is holding elections for two new Chairs.

Vote!

The current Chair Hamied Haroon is about to step down after six years in post, and the Network has decided to replace him with two co-Chairs so that the work can be spread more evenly.

The Disabled Staff Network (DSN) formed around the time that the University was producing and consulting on its new Disability Equality Scheme (DES) in 2006, in accordance with the Disability Discrimination Act at that time.

The DSN became independent of the Equality and Diversity Office and chaired by one of its own members, Hamied, in 2007. Its top priority was to chase up the actions in the University’s DES via the University’s Equality and Diversity Forum, chaired by Professor Aneez Esmail, which was attended by the then President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Alan Gilbert.

Hamied, a Research Associate in MR Imaging, says: “The first six years have been busy, productive and exciting. I started by presenting an analysis of the lack of support for disabled staff to Professor Gilbert – it was a real privilege to talk to him and get his endorsement on our activities and plans. Soon afterwards I was on the panel interviewing and appointing the University’s very first dedicated Disability Adviser for Staff in the DSO, an historic moment for any HEI in our country!

“I have loved every minute of being Chair of the DSN but it’s time for me to step down. We need someone else with fresh energy and ideas to take over and lead our Network onward.”

  • The elected positions are open to all staff at the University – they do not need to fall into the category of ‘disabled’, but it would be useful for them to have an interest in disability issues. The only people who can vote are members of the Disabled Staff Network.
  • The elections run until Wednesday, 31 July.
  • For more information visit Disabled Staff Network