Disability Action Plans: Supporting staff and students with disabilities

Flinders University reviewed its Disability Action Plan in 2012-13, with a major finding that reporting on the Plan had become too retrospective. The revised Plan placed targets and timeframes against specific strategies, and... [ view full abstract ]

Flinders University reviewed its Disability Action Plan in 2012-13, with a major finding that reporting on the Plan had become too retrospective. The revised Plan placed targets and timeframes against specific strategies, and forecast that it would be dynamic and amendable.
This initiative is really a series of initiatives promoting the Disability Action Plan and educating staff about their responsibilities to staff and students with disabilities. In addition, initiatives promoted and enabled better practices and drove the changes for the next iteration of the Disability Action Plan in late 2014.
Areas within the University that hadn't previously reported on disability were challenged to recognise and take ownership of strategies that applied to them. Those who had previously reported found new enthusiasm with the clarity of the new Plan and its ease of reporting. In addition to bringing together the information on the actions that were being carried out, these processes also drew attention to gaps, inconsistencies or new needs.
A strategy was also adopted, to seek feedback from both staff and students in a way that provided anonymity. While providing a mechanism for acknowledging the successful strategies and actions, this also enabled criticism of things that were not being done, or that could be improved.
There was also a significant training element, with sessions around Student Mental Health, Supporting staff/students with disabilities and a session to all the HR Advisors.
In 2014, reporting against the new Disability Action Plan showed a deeper engagement with the Plan - it was not just about targets met or unmet, but true engagement, with questions raised, and amendments, new strategies and targets suggested. In addition, new strategies, targets and timeframes were created under the objective of 'Student and staff mental health and wellbeing is a prime consideration of the university'.