The National Disabled Students' Association has both run and taken part in campaigns affecting disabled learners across Aotearoa. We often take part in campaigns to help make sure disabled ākonga are listened to, supported, and valued in tertiary education. Campaigning can look like spreading awareness, running petitions, writing and signing open letters, and other ways of drawing attention to ākonga rights, experiences, and wellbeing.
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Why I Missed Class
Why I Missed Class was a campaign held in 2022, advocating for nation-wide lecture recordings for all learners at tertiary institutions. Alongside Victoria University of Wellington Students’ Association (VUWSA) | Te Aka Tauira, we put forth a petition seeking lecture recordings at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington which gathered over 4,500 signatures.
Image descriptions: some of the experiences put forward by learners in the Why I Missed Class campaign. The first learner says "I'm working full time in order to support myself and my family through this cost of living crisis. I can rarely make it to class in person because of this. Lecture recordings give me the freedom to learn at my own pace and ease". The second learner says "I work 25 hours a week to cover the rent and cost of living. I'm expected to be at work from 9 to 5pm, and it's simply not feasible to attend every lecture in-person". The third learner is Lauren, 2022 Co-President for the NDSA, who says "I was busy trying to complete assignments, and attend lectures from my hospital bed!". The fourth learner is Alice, 2021 President and 2022 Co-President, who says "Lecture recordings have increased my freedom, and put me at the same level as my peers". Each quote is followed by the hashtag, #WhyIMissedClass and the request: guarantee students universal access to lecture recordings.
The campaign gathered nearly 200 experiences from disabled and non-disabled learners about why they may have missed classes and tutorials, and why having equitable access to educational materials was so important. The petition cited the loss of online learning access as institutions reduced their Covid-19 protocols, and the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021 — discussing the responsibility of institutions to meet the need of diverse learners.
Our recommendations
We recommend institutions have clear, accessible policies discussing lecture recordings, formed in collaboration with staff, Deaf and disabled learners, and other affected groups. Lecture recordings not only benefit Deaf and disabled learners; they benefit learners who work, care for whānau, and for whom English is a second language. They also benefit learners who attend classes in-person, providing them with opportunities to revise and study from the up-to-date expertise of their lecturers.
We recognise there are often important discussions to be had with staff, particularly in a climate of cuts to the education sector. We support staff having autonomy over their intellectual property, and encourage institutions to work with all groups affected by lecture recording policies to find solutions that prioritise privacy, equity, and improving learners’ access to a high quality education.
We encourage lecture recording policies and practices to include:
- Accessibility of lecture recordings to all students, without requiring disclosure of disability
- Recommendations for courses to provide up-to-date recordings
- Clear pathways to learn on-the-go for staff when changing to new technologies
- Clear privacy policies and contact points
- Pathways for learners to access accurate captioning and NZSL interpreters
- Have ways for learner groups to provide feedback in policy development and reviews
Media links
'We're not lazy': Students want universities to keep uploading lecture recordings online by Olivia Shivas, Stuff
No More Excuses
From August to October 2023, the National Disabled Students’ Association took part in a ‘No More Excuses’ campaign alongside the New Zealand Union for Students’ Associations (NZUSA), Te Mana Ākonga, and local students’ association. The campaign focused on —
- Authentic acknowledgement of Te Tiriti o Waitangi
- A debt free future for students
- Partnership between tertiary education, the Government, and students
As a part of the campaign launch, Leo He discussed in this video the barriers disabled learners experience, both during education and when seeking employment after graduation.
Media links
Students’ Associations Release “No More Excuses!”, press release by NZUSA, Auckland Scoop