How we support disability and neurodiversity equality
We strive to create accessible spaces for our staff and students to have professional, academic and personal support. There are a range of options to engage with, including wellbeing events and social activities, run by networks throughout the academic year.
The Hidden Disability Sunflower
Surrey aims to cultivate an inclusive community which supports the needs of people with hidden disabilities and/or invisible illnesses and we are pleased to partner with Hidden Disabilties.
Wearing the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower discreetly indicates to people around the wearer (including staff, students and others) that they may need additional support, understanding or a little more time.
Neurodiversity Network
The Neurodiversity Network provide support and raise awareness for neurodivergent people at Surrey as well as offering a space to celebrate the strengths that a neurodiverse workforce and community can bring.
Visit our Neurodiversity at Surrey blog for more information.
Purple Network
The Purple Network is a staff network for people with disabilities or long-term health needs and their allies. We aim to provide staff with support and an opportunity to network and feed into Surrey’s work towards disability equality.
Accessibility
We work with AccessAble, a nationally recognised organisation, to provide detailed Accessibility Guides to all buildings and key services on our campuses. Accessibility information for University of Surrey campus.
The accessibility guides give our staff, students and visitors the detailed information they need to know about the accessibility of a building or service. They simply contain facts, figures and photographs.
Whether you're looking to check a fact or explore a route between campuses you can get the detail instantly, using AccessAble or the University’s own App available on Android and iOS by searching AccessAble – Uni of Surrey.
Disability and neurodiversity support for students
The Disability and Neurodiversity team in the Library provide support and advice to all students at the University with a disability.
Disability Confident Initiative
As a Disability Confident employer, we are committed to:
- Ensuring that our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible communicating and promoting vacancies
- Offering an interview to disabled people who meet the minimum criteria for the job
- Anticipating and providing reasonable adjustments as required
- Supporting any existing employee who acquires a disability or long-term health condition, enabling them to stay in work
- At least one initiative that will make a difference for disabled people.
Business Disability Forum
As a member of the Business Disability Forum, we receive in-depth, tailored support via the Advice Service and Knowledge Hub. We access events and webinars as well as a growing range of networks and taskforces.
Employment Works
We have worked in partnership with local care provider Surrey Choices to deliver the innovative Employment Works project which has been successful in receiving several awards in recognition of supporting the local community. This inspirational initiative provides more than just work placements, training, volunteer opportunities and paid work for young people with autism or learning, physical or sensory disabilities. It provides life-changing experiences, not only to the lives of the young people it reaches but to many of those colleagues throughout the University who have engaged with the project.