On Friday 19 April, the Disabilities Community Room was officially opened by the Disabilities Collective (DisCo) in an event with representatives from the University of Sydney Union (USU), Sydney University Postgraduate Students’ Association (SUPRA), and DisCo members.
The Disabilities Community Room (DCR or the Room) is open to all students at the University of Sydney, undergraduate and postgraduate, who are disabled, have a chronic illness or mental health condition.
It is split into two zones: a hangout zone and a quiet zone with acoustic panels. It is a safe environment where you can relax, administer medications, have a chat, read books and access information of interest.
It is a joint space between SUPRA, the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) and the USU. The Room is located on Level 1 of Manning House (A23), on the corner next to the lockers near the atrium. The nearest accessible lift is on the ground level of Manning House next to Oakberry.
In 2021 during the peak of NSW’s COVID-19 crisis, SUPRA submitted a joint application together with the USU and the SRC for the Room. The project finally received greenlight following an Honi Soit article in 2022 after a years-long process where Disabilities student office-bearers from both the SRC and SUPRA failed to secure approval for the room due to the University’s byzantine administration.
Request access to the Room via this form here. You will need to have swipe card access to enter the room. This form will start the process to grant you this access.
