Presenter: Siyu (Suzanna) Chen, Disabled Students UK

In 2023, Disabled Students UK (DSUK), a community research organisation run by current and former disabled students, ran its inaugural Annual Disabled Student Survey to explore accessibility in the UK Higher Education sector using a lived experience-centred and data-driven approach. With 1372 disabled respondents from over 100 institutions, the project is the most extensive participatory and student-led research into university accessibility in the country to date. The large sample size allows for data showing a representative picture of the UK-wide accessibility landscape and analyses disaggregated by individual issues and institutions. All results are compiled into the Access Insights Report 2023.  

While notable differences exist between the UK and US Higher Education systems, the survey and report's results — including common accessibility issues faced by disabled students and policies and practices associated with positive student outcomes in UK institutions — can inspire stakeholders in American colleges and universities (i.e. senior leadership, student support administrators, DEI departments).