Disability History Month: Oxford SU Disabilities Campaign

The journey so far

Tell us about yourself!

Aery: Hey, I’m Aery and I’m the DisCam cochair! I’m a final year Classics student at Queen’s originally from London. 

Lucianna: I’m a finalist at St Anne’s college studying English Literature, originally from the Wirral.

What has your time at Oxford been like? 

Aery: My time at Oxford has been intense and unexpected at times, but I’ve met some wonderful friends for life, learnt lots about my subject and myself, and thoroughly enjoyed being a student! 

Lucianna: It has been interesting! It’s the first time in my education that I’ve had my passion matched by my fellow students and those teaching me. I’m also autistic, and my sixth-form self would not believe how involved I’ve become with university life in my time here. Everything from student leadership roles to clubbing seemed impossible to me then.

What are you involved in outside of your studies?

Aery: I’ve volunteered with DisCam since first year and now also chair SusCam (the suspended student’s campaign). I’ve also been able to continue this advocacy on a college level and with other societies I’ve been a part of. I now have the privilege of being an editor and writer at The Oxford Blue, where I write on disability and how it affects me. 

Lucianna: Outside of my studies I’m involved with quite a bit of student disability activism and outreach! In my second year I was my JCR’s Disabilities Rep, and am now the College Representatives Officer for DisCam. I’ve also volunteered with groups such as Neurodiversity at Oxford to support neurodivergent university applicants and represent the community at Oxford Pride. Beyond my work with other disabled students, I also dance with a couple of different groups around the city, and played with the university ceilidh band. 

How did you get involved and what has it brought to your personal and Oxford experience?

Aery: Being able to meet and connect  with other students who have a similar life experience has been one of my favourite parts of Oxford. Though fighting for accessibility shouldn’t be needed, I am grateful I have had the opportunity to enact change and foster community through my work at DisCam. It’s helped me find friends, be more confident in myself and my needs, and given me a passion to continue in all works of life! 

Lucianna: I became involved with these things initially because two of my tutors co-founded Neurodiversity at Oxford, so I had access to disability-positive spaces and my interest in disability studies was supported and encouraged from my very first term here. I’ve really developed my interpersonal skills from meeting and supporting so many students in these roles, and have had opportunities I otherwise may have been overlooked for due to my own disabilities and necessary accommodations.

Looking to the future

What are your future aspirations for yourself?

Aery: After I finish my undergraduate degree this year, I’m hoping to study creative writing in order to become a publisher, and hopefully be published as well! My writing is something that is central to my sense of self and where I can be raw and vulnerable, which naturally displays my hopes, fears and frustration as a disabled person. I want to write to give myself and others a voice, a creative form of advocacy, I guess! 

Lucianna: I’m looking to do some work in the likes of museums and heritage sites, theatres, or universities, either in an educational or outreach role, before further study in the medical humanities, or Shakespeare studies. I’m excited to have more time to create art and take up performance opportunities. 

What opportunities are there for other students to get involved?

Aery: We run our annual elections at the end of Hilary Term, where you can apply to join committee. We also have some options to join committee by appointments, so do reach out with any questions. At the moment we have a DisCam families scheme which we are encouraging people to sign up to, to support each other through life as a disabled Oxford student! Do check out SusCam as well, who we work closely with!

Lucianna: Other students looking to get involved can go for JCR positions, but also shouldn’t be nervous to go straight for an SU campaign role! Even though campaigns do a lot of serious work behind the scenes, the DisCam committee is super relaxed, friendly, and understanding. This year is my first doing an SU campaign role, and I’ve had plenty of support learning how to carry out my responsibilities.