The School of Mathematics aims to provide an inclusive and accessible space for people with disabilities, long-standing illnesses, chronic conditions, and those who consider themselves to be neurodivergent. Inclusive Language and Accessibility The University has provided an Inclusive Language Guide, with the aim of ensuring every individual is treated with respect. Not defining an individual or group by their disabilities or conditions is a cornerstone of respectful communication, however the easiest way to be respectful is to ask the individual their preferences, as each individual is different and not all disabilities are visible. For example, some people may prefer person-first language (e.g. person with a disability) and others may prefer identity-first language (e.g. disabled person). Remember that not everyone will discuss their disability or condition in the same way, as everyone has different experiences, and so asking the individual what they prefer is paramount. The University of Edinburgh has partnered with AccessAble (previously called DisabledGo) to provide full access guides and other accessibility services to students, giving specific information for each campus and building within the city. Specific information is available for King's Buildings, including locations of accessible toilets, quiet study areas, and ramped/sloped door access. The School is compliant with the University-wide accessibility guides, with physical accessibility information for campus buildings, and assistive learning technology available for all students who require support. Further Reading Disability Rights UK have drawn up an advice list of potential adjustments for disabled students at universities, as well as tips on asking for these adjustments and what national policies are in place. EdInMIND – Edinburgh Inclusive MIND lab: mental health, interaction, neurodiversity, development – is a group of researches based in the University of Edinburgh, dedicated to researching the development and experiences of neurotypical and neurodivergent people. They provide blogs, articles and lots of useful information about autism. Autism Awareness/Acceptance is a document created by the University of Edinburgh Autistic Spectrum Group that gives an overview of important terminology, myths and stereotypes to avoid, challenges an autistic student may face and how to best support on the autistic spectrum. A guide to university disability support has been produced by the National Association of Disability Practitioners (NADP), including a glossary of common terms and an explanation of Disabled Students' Allowance. The National Autistic Society is a charity which provides support and advice for people on the autistic spectrum and offer training courses and conferences to raise awareness. An advisory glossary of terms (by Autistic Mutual Aid Society Edinburgh) associated with autism has also been compiled, providing definitions and advice on terminology. UCAS advice on researching and applying to university is a resource intended for prospective students for students with a physical and/or mental health condition. "What a body can do: Rethinking body functionality through a feminist materialist disability lens" is an article bringing new intersectional research tying together ideas of body functionality with feminist materialist disability theory to ask questions about the links between perceptions of the human body and the socio-material worlds around them. Dr Mark Rickinson's synthesis of research explores the experiences of disabled people in Higher Education, looking at the case studies of diverse groups of students to assess how universities are responding to disability needs and what strategies could be put in place to improve experiences. To read more about the initiatives and events the School of Mathematics is involved in to combat (dis)ableism, and ensure staff and students with disabilities are treated equitably and with respect, read our EDI Action Plan and visit our Initiatives and Events page, and see how you can get involved. This article was published on 2025-04-22
