Disability History Month Blog

An image of Meg Spiteri, with a glass background. Meg is wearing a black leather jacket and is smiling at the camera.

As we mark Disability History Month, it’s crucial to reflect on this year’s theme: Livelihood and Employability. While many of us at Imperial College can look forward to promising career prospects, the journey to employment for disabled students often holds unique challenges.

In 2024, the employment rate for disabled people still lags significantly behind that of non-disabled people—just 54% compared to 83%. This disparity underscores the persistent need for greater support, understanding, and positive change in workplace attitudes toward disability.

For disabled graduates, getting a job is often only the first hurdle. Navigating a career may mean requesting workplace adjustments to thrive in one’s role, such as adaptive equipment or modified work hours. Yet even these essential requests can feel daunting when stigma around disability persists, adding pressure to “prove” our capabilities in ways others may not face.

As your Disabilities Officer, my work centres on creating a more inclusive campus and preparing students to advocate confidently for their needs in both academia and the workplace. One of my main goals this year is to raise awareness about the specific needs of disabled postgraduates, especially those in research degrees, who may require adjustments beyond traditional lecture and exam accommodations. To support this, I’m collaborating with the Disability Advisory Service and the Early Career Research Institute to increase awareness of reasonable adjustments for lab and office environments. Additionally, I’ll be developing a bank of resources for personal tutors and supervisors, helping them to proactively enhance their understanding and support for disabled students. For students seeking support through Disabled Students Allowance (DSA), I’m lobbying the College for specific financial assistance to make this vital resource more accessible.

During Disability History Month, both the Union and the College are hosting a range of activities and events. On 13th November, there’s the LCO event Craft and Community—come along for free to meet others and enjoy some creative activities. On 12th December, I’ll be hosting a Disability Discussion Panel, featuring both internal and external speakers sharing their experiences. This panel will also launch my year-long Things I Wish You Knew campaign, funded by the College’s EDI Seed Fund. Through sharing real stories, this campaign aims to break down stigma and build a stronger culture of inclusion at Imperial.

Together, let’s use this Disability History Month to make Imperial a place where everyone feels seen, valued, and empowered.

For questions, ideas, or to get involved, please reach out at icu-disabilities@imperial.ac.uk.