Student groups make efforts to form association for disabled students

MAWSA and student-run Facebook group ‘Disability at Massey (support and resources)’ are working hard to establish a Disabled Student’s Association. MAWSA and Disability at Massey have been collaborating with the National Disabled Students Association (NDSA) and their President Alice Mander to achieve this goal. 

MAWSA Vice President Elizabeth Hodgson said she has been personally working with NDSA and Alice. She mentions there have been talks about what a disability rep/committee might look like on MAWSA. “Alice will join me to help facilitate as this space is not my place to have my voice leading,” Elizabeth said. 

She notes they are also working to organise an event for disabled students in the Co-Lab on the Wellington campus in Week 6 or 7 of the semester. “It will be a space for disabled students to discuss accessibility on campus, bring to light any issues they have and come together as a community. There will be food, discussion time, and hang outs galore,” Elizabeth said. There will also be a NSDA event in September for Massey’s disabled students to connect with others from Wellington, which MAWSA will advertise. 

A Massey spokesperson notes three existing networks of communication for students with disabilities at Massey, one of which is Disability at Massey. The Massey Distance Community Stream site hosts a forum for distance students living with disabilities, impairments, and health issues. Disability Services also communicates with students registered with them about events and opportunities that may be of interest, they said. 

The Disability at Massey Facebook group was created last year and is run by students Alex and Mhairi. Alex said the group is for neurodivergent and disabled students to connect with one another and share tips and support. 

Disabled students are one of the groups of students MUSAF is aiming to better represent with its new restructure proposal, alongside mature students, LGBTQ+ students, and parents.