DSO Short Manifesto Content

Why Vote James?

For the last two years Ive served as the Disabled Students Campaigns representative on the
National Executive Council of NUS. In that time Ive done everything from organising
demonstrations to visiting Students Unions and producing research on making our institutions
more accessible.
I believe my experience of organising at both a local and national level has given me the skills to
fight back, and to win, and thats why I want to ask for your support in electing to be your National
Disabled Students Officer.
The Conservative majority government means that our campaign faces new challenges to protect
the services and welfare of disabled students in the face of vicious attacks.
From preventing student suicides to defending services for disabled people, our campaign needs
to grow and change, puts its resources and efforts into supporting your work locally, and building
that into a national campaign to protect the rights of disabled students.
If you have any questions or want to discuss my manifesto, please get in touch with me.
James
My Experience:
NUS National Executive 2014-2016 / OUSU Disabled Students Officer 2014-2015 / OUSU Trustee
2015-16 / HE Student 2013-16
Pledges: Mental Health & Student Suicide
Student Suicide Prevention
This year, NUS has begun research into the causes of student suicide and possible preventive
measures. As your Officer, I pledge to continue the student suicide prevention project, and
implement its recommendations.
Mental Health Services
This year we have begun work on comparing institutions in their support for students with mental
health conditions and long-term mental illness, and providing recommendations for the minimum
standards each SU should expect from their institution, while supporting FE services as they
undergo area Reviews. I pledge to continue this work and produce a set of recommendations
for your institutions mental health services.
National Service Cuts
I want to support students and officers in campaigning within your institution, council and nationally
on mental health provision. As your Officer, I pledge to produce materials and train officers to
organise campaigns around mental health services with your institution, council and MPs.
My Record:
In my time as your representative on the NEC, I have attended almost every meeting, been
transparent in how I have voted - and always explained why, but I have also sought to change the
committee to be more active, campaigning and engaged. I have organised national
demonstrations, on free education and welfare cuts. I have produced research on accessible
accommodation for SUs to campaign with. I have run workshops and speaker events on mental
health, and I know what parts of our campaign work, and what parts we need to change.

Pledges: Defending Disabled Students Support

Disabled Students Allowance
The cuts to the Disabled Students Allowance will be felt particularly hard, and we need to win
support back while supporting students in winning support from their institutions. There is currently
no equality monitoring of who has been affected by DSA reforms, and often working-class and
Black students do not complete applications. I pledge to support institutions in lobbying for
support to be covered, while campaigning nationally for political parties to commit to
reinstating DSA, scrapping the 200 equipment charge, and allowing DSA for international
students.
Welfare Reform
Welfare cuts from the government have taken away vital support from disabled students across the
UK - and we need this campaign to fight back. This particularly affects students with more complex
circumstances, such as student parents, part-time students, and apprentices. I will work with other
national organisations such as trade unions, the TUC, and Disabled People Against Cuts to take
the fight to the Tories on welfare cuts. I pledge to produce guidance on what welfare cuts affect
disabled students, and how students can run campaigns to protect them both nationally
and in their area.
Health and Social Care
Cuts and privatisation to the NHS have made support for disabled students more fragmented and
harder to access. With a postcode lottery of support, students are choosing to study based on what
support they can get, so I pledge to campaign for transferable care packages and adequate
levels of care, while continuing our campaign against the 200 charge for international students to
use the NHS.
Pledges: Campaign Development
Communication
As your officer, I pledge to be visible, active and transparent. To improve communication, I will
send out monthly email updates, visit campuses on request, and publishing reports and blogs on
NUS Connect to explain the work Im doing and how I can support you.
Support and Training
Providing support is key to building an effective campaign, which is why I want to introduce more
training and resources for disabled activists. I pledge to introduce a Disabled Activist Training
Day, bringing in students from HE and FE, to discuss and learn how to organise on your campus.
In addition, I will introduce a disabled students handbook.
Organisation
Organising between SUs is important, but needs to take place at a regional level in order to be
effective nationally. I will set up regional organising networks to create campaigning bodies that
can bring activists together to discuss and share ideas, hold events in Disabled History Month, and
run campaigns in their region.