Khanh Tran and Victor Zhang are the USyd SRC Disabilities Officers (2024) and are involved in the USU DIAP Working Group.
As campaigning commences for this year’s University of Sydney Union (USU) elections, candidates will undoubtedly shower student voters with a plethora of promises and SSAF bullions. Among the issues that elected Board Directors will have a say over is the planned Disabilities Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP).
According to USU President Naz Sharifi, the project has been allocated $60,000 by the organisation from its joint SSAF application with the SRC and SUPRA. At this stage, it is understood that the USU is in the process of securing a professional Accessibility Consultant for the DIAP with a consultation process to follow in the year with students and USU staff.
“The USU is excited to be developing and operationalising our first ever Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP) in 2024,” said Sharifi.
“Progress for the DIAP up to this point has included the creation of a Working Party, which includes stakeholders and disability representatives from the USU, the University’s DIAP project, the SRC and SUPRA.”
Under NSW law, all large public organisations are required to institute their own DIAPs in compliance with a set of guidelines issued by the state government. Indeed, the University has its own 2019-24 DIAP, meaning that a formal report and planning for a new plan will be undertaken over the course of this year.
Once a USU DIAP is implemented, the organisation will be bound to realise its actions and required to report on the Plan on a basis determined by the Board.
The USU’s DIAP started during the presidency of Cole Scott-Curwood (2022-2023) and continued on to current President Naz Sharifi. It also featured in the campaigns of multiple incumbents, including current Disabilities Portfolio Holder Grace Wallman. It is one of two strategic plans aimed at improving the union’s inclusion of students and staff from traditionally underrepresented communities, with the other being the Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) that concerns the USU’s relationship with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Through the past few years, the Disabilities Portfolio in the union has transformed into a larger role following initiatives from multiple student societies such as SULS (Sydney University Law Society) in 2021 and SUBS (Sydney University Business Society) in 2023.
Will a DIAP make a difference to disabled students and staff?
Here lies one of the major criticisms of DIAPs. Major state organisations, including the larger University, are required to design and implement their own DIAPs under the Disability Inclusion Act 2014, the last major reform to disability planning legislation since 1993 following the codification of the landmark federal Disability Discrimination Act 1992.
One, a USU DIAP will mean that the organisation will have the largest say over the priorities of the Plan. The USU’s election cycle largely subjecting the Plan to the ideals of the Board with some base requirements from the law.
Further, in terms of furthering disability justice, including action on disability discrimination, limited research on local councils’ DIAPs’ effectiveness by the University of Newcastle’s Katie Butler observed that actions geared at eliminating employment discrimination were rare while actions aimed at improving accessible built environments were far more common. Even then, because employment-oriented actions in DIAPs often amounted to “standard employment practices”, material improvements to discrimination in employment practices for disabled people through DIAPs is limited.
“At this stage, these actions [actions prescribed by local councils’ DIAPs] cannot reasonably be considered to be contributing to meaningful employment outcomes and are not likely to challenge the systemic discrimination and unemployment faced by disabled people in Australia,” the paper notes.
However, one can argue that, on the flip side, where DIAPs do shine is enshrining a continual and consistent responsibility on state entities to commit to disability inclusion, rather than leaving disability inclusion planning to anarchy and the whims of administrators.
Analysing candidates’ vision for the DIAP
We requested this year’s crop of USU candidates to submit a snippet of their vision for the Disabilities Inclusion Action Plan.
On one hand, our candidates have a broadly strong commitment to improving disabled students’ participation in university life through initiatives such as through the creative arts, celebrating disability identity, and improving the USU’s built environment. All candidates were committed on this front. Another worthwhile promise, notably featured in Georgia Zhang and Phan Vu’s responses, is encouraging the establishment of disabilities portfolios across more clubs and societies.
On the other hand, a major and glaring omission from the majority of candidates was any consideration for USU staffs’ rights at all except for Georgia Zhang, James Dwyer, and Daniel Park. While Dwyer and Park both considered USU staff, it was solely in terms of pledging to provide disabilities awareness training rather than a concrete look at labour rights or how the union can eliminate discrimination in its recruiting practices. Similarly, Ethan Floyd and Georgia Zhang’s commitment to disabled USU staff is also notably slim other than a passing pledge to include disabled staff in consultations. Though on this note, Zhang’s statement stands out, albeit marginally, as the more solid vision.
Given that the USU presides over the recruitment, welfare and safety of staff, with more than 300 paid employees, including 86 full-time workers. This is no small number. More than $11 million goes to the remuneration of staff or 43 per cent of the union’s expenses. Hence, while this year’s focus on students is laudable — even if undergirded by a strong service provision and student life orientation — it is one that largely ignores staff.
This should alarm us because much of the USU’s casual and part-time staff are current students or alumni. Disabled staffs’ rights are indivisible from students’ rights. On this front, this year’s candidates will require serious consideration for all staff if they are elected given the USU’s history of laying off staff and limiting hours to 40 per cent during 2020’s COVID-19 crisis.
Further, Daniel Park poses several intriguing but hard to quantify KPIs including a 50 per cent increase in “tailored mental health services” and a 60 per cent in “academic support services”. What Park specifically means by this is unspecified, whether the mental health services represent an increase in funding or staffing to the university provided CAPS or how academic support services should be quantified. Park also proposes a “career development program” for disabled staff without mentioning consultation with the NTEU or other unions.
Another note is candidates’ tendency to evoke disability ‘inspirationism’, with Naomi Viegas’ vision fitting into this category. Her statement risks falling into what the late Australian disability activist and comedian Stella Young described as “inspiration porn”. Viegas cited Helen Keller’s “journey” as an inspiration to “strive for a better version of myself”, evoking the language of objectification that disabled people experience for the betterment of non-disabled people that is so prevalent. Those who cite Keller’s name as ‘inspiration’ often forget her radicalism as a socialist who fiercely decried employers, anti-strike laws and called for mass strikes. While Viegas is no doubt well-intentioned, the absence of intersectionality and class consciousness is worrying.
As such, as a flurry of DP changes and election walk-and-talk unfold, we urge all candidates to revisit their own vision to act in the interests of not only disabled students, but staff. This must mean all staff because disability justice affects every aspect of the union.
As a single SRC collective representing the voices of undergraduate disabled students, we do not claim to have the same service provision orientation as the larger USU. But we ask our candidates to commit themselves for the greater good of the USU because ignoring staffs’ rights will mean a diminished DIAP to our collective detriment.
Read the candidates’ vision for the USU DIAP in their own words here.
Note: At the time of writing, Harshita Bandari (NLS) and Angus Fisher (NLS) have yet to respond to Honi’s request for comment. Your silence speaks volumes.
***
Read the candidates’ vision for the USU DIAP in their own words below:
At the time of writing, Harshita Bandari (NLS) and Angus Fisher (NLS) have yet to respond to Honi’s request for comment. Your silence speaks volumes.
James Dwyer (Unity)
“My vision for a USU DIAP centres on elevating community voices to create inclusivity-centred spaces and programs which are accessible for all students. A DIAP must start with implementing physical accessibility measures across USU spaces, events, and services to ensure they are fully accessible to individuals with disabilities, thereby ensuring that the full suite of USU opportunities is made available across the board.
In addition to this the USU should develop and promote events, initiatives, and resources that cater to the diverse needs of students with disabilities, fostering a sense of community. Furthermore, the USU must provide comprehensive training for USU staff and volunteers on disability awareness while also advocating for the rights of students with disabilities in the broader USYD community. The USU must strive to work with disability groups and individuals across campus to ensure a DIAP is a clear and powerful vision for disability inclusion.”
Ethan Floyd (Switchroots)
“Working towards a more inclusive and accessible USU means removing the individual burden on students and making accessibility a priority at every level.
For too many disabled students, the USU represents an overly-bureaucratic body that’s detached from real students’ experiences. This needs to change.
My platform and vision will work for disabled students by offering targeted cost-of-living relief; expanding accessibility features on the USU website and C&S portal; encouraging cross-funding of SRC and SUPRA campaigns, including those run by the Disabilities Collective; and extending access to autonomous spaces (including the Disabilities Communities Room).
I want to help shape a DIAP which is authentic and adaptive to disabled students’ needs — something which goes beyond platitudes and offers disabled students more than just a link on a website. I want to increase opportunities for consultation with disabled students and staff, and set measurable and achievable goals for building a more inclusive and accessible campus.
Ultimately, disabled students deserve an accessible campus and a USU that will work to ensure safety and inclusivity is at the top of its agenda. As a truly student-focused, left-wing presence on the USU Board, I will fight like hell to achieve wins for disabled students.”
Simon Homsany
“The need for inclusion and further disability awareness on campus is significant to me and is something that should not be treated lightly. In the upcoming [Disability] inclusion Action Plan, I would like to see greater upgrades to our facilities to make them more accessible for our disabled students. While progress has been made to existing faculties to meet building codes such as the Charles Perkin Centre, Abercrombie, and Fisher Library, it is imperative the University has a thorough plan to ensure no disabled student is disadvantaged by physical restraints. It is important beyond just the physical practices the University can adopt but the University should continue as per Objective 6 of the previous action plan, that greater research should be concentrated in disability related matters to position the University strongly as an inclusivity ‘champion’ speaking at the forefront of these important issues. If elected, I will work collaboratively with the SRC Disabilities Collective and SUPRA Disability and Inclusion Network to achieve greater outcomes for all students.”
Daniel Park
“Thanks for reaching out. I appreciate the opportunity you’ve given me to speak about this as addressing the DIAP is something I am excited to work on as a board director and is a key part of my policy. My vision for it is designed to create a fully inclusive environment through measurable, specific actions that ensure accountability and progress.
Firstly, I plan to enhance physical accessibility across all university spaces. This will involve a detailed audit of current infrastructure followed by targeted upgrades. My goal is to ensure that 90% of campus facilities are fully accessible by 2025, with clear signage and navigational aids installed in every building.
Secondly, to improve digital inclusivity, I will oversee the upgrade of all USU digital platforms to conform to WCAG 2.2 standards by the end of 2024. Actions will include ensuring help mechanisms like chat windows are consistently presented across pages, simplifying authentication processes to avoid reliance on memory-based tests, enhancing focus visibility and appearance to aid users with visual impairments, and setting a minimum target size of 24×24 pixels for clickable elements to assist those with motor disabilities.
Thirdly, I aim to expand support services for students with disabilities. This includes increasing the availability of tailored mental health services by 50% and academic support services by 60% by 2025. Each service will be regularly reviewed for effectiveness and user satisfaction.
For staff and faculty, I propose mandatory disability awareness and inclusion training sessions to be conducted bi-annually, aiming for 100% participation by the end of 2024. Furthermore, I plan to establish a career development program specifically for staff with disabilities, aiming to increase their representation in all university employment levels by 15% by 2025.
Finally, I will initiate a quarterly review process involving feedback from the disability community at the university to continually adapt and improve our DIAP strategies.This direct feedback mechanism will ensure that our actions remain aligned with the needs of those they are designed to support.”
Phan Vu
“I believe inclusion and access should be at the heart of everything that USU does. My vision for the USU Disabilities Inclusion and Action Plan (DIAP) centres on accessibility, accountability, and representation. Accessibility is a fundamental requirement. All USU buildings, events, and activities must meet stringent accessibility standards to ensure that they are fully inclusive for individuals of all abilities. I believe a centralised protocol should be implemented for all Clubs and Societies to follow, guaranteeing that their activities and events are accessible to everyone. Accountability is crucial.
One way to achieve this is by empowering the establishment of Disabilities Officers within each Club and Society. These officers will serve as advocates for disability inclusion and ensure that their respective groups actively promote accessibility and inclusivity. Representation is important as I envisage the USU DIAP to encourage input from individuals with lived experience of disability and incorporate their perspectives into the implementation of the DIAP. Frequent consultation with the disability community will ensure that our efforts are truly reflective of their needs and priorities.”
Naomi Viegas
“Growing up, my family’s close involvement with individuals with disabilities deeply influenced my perspective. From my father’s stories of playing chess with blind students to my grandmother’s work with children with cerebral palsy, we learned empathy, patience, and the importance of inclusion. Reading Helen Keller’s journey further inspired me to appreciate life’s challenges and strive for a better version of myself.
Carrying this ethos forward, I envision enhancing disability inclusion at USU DIAP through various initiatives. Firstly, by improving awareness about the university’s efforts in this realm, I aim to make information readily accessible. Through campus art initiatives, we’ll celebrate disability culture and challenge stereotypes, while co-creation [of] workshops will bring together diverse voices to tackle accessibility challenges collaboratively.
Inclusive innovation grants will empower stakeholders to spearhead projects addressing specific inclusion goals. A technology innovation lab will focus on developing cutting-edge assistive technologies, while virtual campus tours will aid prospective students with disabilities in making informed decisions about accessibility. Inclusive design competitions will harness creativity to devise solutions to accessibility challenges across campus. Partnering with Disability Leadership Groups will foster inclusive leadership collaboration, and integrating university courses with research assignments will drive interdisciplinary research collaborations in disability studies and accessible design. I seek to incorporate these initiatives to create a more inclusive environment, fostering understanding, collaboration, and innovation to ensure that everyone feels valued and included at USU DIAP.”
Georgia Zhang (Switchroots)
“My vision for the USU Disabilities Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP) revolves around two key pillars: accessibility and representation. First, I would like to see a campus where accessibility is integrated into every aspect of campus life. This could look like physical infrastructure, such as ramps and accessible restrooms, to digital platforms, such as ensuring that all USU materials are available in formats suitable for everyone (for example, being screen reader compatible). This is especially important when it comes to resources surrounding student safety.
On representation, disabled students and USU staff must be actively involved in the decision-making processes that affect their campus life and work. This can be achieved through expanding the USU disability portfolio (potentially creating a specialised committee for disabled students and staff if that does not already exist), which currently is only one student board director. It is critical to ensure that disabled students and USU staff are able to directly influence and shape policies which impact them.
Overall, a comprehensive DIAP should not merely accommodate but actively improve the campus experience for disabled students. It should also be measurable and must have accountability mechanisms (e.g. auditing) so the USU sticks to it and can receive feedback.”
Zixuan Zhang
“Thank you for giving me this opportunity to share my thoughts on an article. Following are my personal opinion:
As a candidate, my personal perspective for the USU’s Disabilities Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP) is trying to focus on creat[ing] a campus environment that is truly accessible for all students, whatever their abilities are. This should be involved in reducing physical barriers, such as adding lifts, as well as ensuring technical management for it; also letting more people on campus understand and support the DIAP.
Moreover, we have to take opinions from the disabilities [sic] to ensure inclusion and equality. I believe all the people should feel comfortable in this community. For my personal opinion, the DIAP can include improved infrastructure, provide both physical & mental support for them, ensure the clubs and societies have an appropriate guideline, freely and equally accessible events accessible for the usu, and respect all aspects of campus life. It is better to leave no stone unturned in creating a campus where every student feels respected and valued.”
