May/June updates
Kia ora and welcome to our delayed monthly update, in line with semester break for May and June, for our members and wider community to keep informed as to what NDSA has been up to.
May kicked off with the publication of the interagency research project “Let’s Get Accessible”, which is now available in full on our website to read. We are so excited to see these findings now ready for wider dissemination, but also utilisation as a source of evidence that clearly showcases that the tertiary education system needs to step up for students with disabilities.
Co-presidents Sean and Tara had the opportunity to discuss this research along with other key concerns with the Minister for Tertiary Education, Penny Simmons. Sharing the persepctives of our community with the Minister including:
The over-representation of vocational learners pursuing apprenticeships for 5+ years and the role of the Government in resolving this with the reform of Te Pūkenga
Our concerns of how AI is being utilised and responded to in tertiary education, both as a tool to aid students, but also as an insufficient substitute for learning support services
A reminder of the legislative requirement for student voice within Disability Action Plans and the need to further awareness of disabled student rights and provider duties under the Code of Pastoral Care.
This meeting took place in Wellington, which also provided both the opportunity to attend Deaf Aeotaroa’s NZSL awards and connect with the Deaf student community.
May also saw the establishment of our memorandum of understanding and formal partnership with Te Tira Ahu Pae (TTAP), the student union of Massey University. We are grateful for the support of outgoing Disability at Massey student representative for TTAP, long-standing NDSA member Eliouse Flemming who has been instrumental in growing our relationship with TTAP. We also send our gratitude to the members of the TTAP executive who continue to advocate for ākonga with disabilities across their campuses. NDSA is excited to move forward on our work together with this new partnership.
Lastly for May in exciting news for readers in Christchurch, UCDSA has officially relaunched, their official event was attended by local NDSA executive member and administration officer Nevé, and our relations officer Nikki. This trip was an opportunity to support the re-launch, but also network with key allies both in the student voice and disability advocacy space, moving towards formal partnership agreements.
Later in June, facing exam season we bring you a few less updates. We did, however, get to the successful launch of our online new inter-institution community platform. This platform hosted on Discord will be a space for students with disabilities across all forms of higher education to join together in community and advocacy. Currently, we are trialling the rollout of this with our member organisations and their respective executives but look forward to opening this up to the wider community.
Also in June Co-President Sean was selected for and sat on the initial meeting of the Universities Advisory Group. The advisory group aims to address structural challenges within New Zealand's public research system by recommending fundamental changes to improve integration, transparency, resource optimization, and governance. Sean looks forward to bringing the strength of passion and want for change that students with disabilities hold to this committee.
Mā te wā,
NDSA Executive