This blog is a little different in the sense that I want to present an idea to you guys and get your thoughts on it.
As I've previously said, term 1 proved to be a very eye-opening experience especially in the case of growing an understanding of what people are going through, both in private and in the open.
Unknown to many of us, many students on campus are struggling with disabilities. Whilst, it is more possible to notice when this disability is physical, it can be said to not be the same for disabilities that are not physical, such as depression and anxiety.
In a 2016 Independent report, it was revealed that rates of depression and anxiety among teenagers have increased by 70% in the past 25 years, whilst in 2018, it was reported that, concerning teens among the age 17 to 19, 46.8% of people with mental disorders have self-harmed or committed suicide.
Other hidden disabilities include things such as chronic pain, epilepsy, diabetes, autism and hearing impairment.
In a 2017 BBC report, it was revealed that a billion people worldwide live with some kind of disability and 74% of them do not use a wheelchair or anything else that may visually signal their impairment to the outside world. They also highlighted 'a silent challenge' people with hidden disabilities face: many people have a negative view of disclosing their disability out of worry of being labelled. Guy Chaudoir also says, "One of the hardest things is putting pressure on yourself to achieve, and being afraid to ask for help", leaving people with hidden disabilities in an internal conflict, usually at the expense of their physical and mental well-being.
In light of this, I want to work with the Student Well-being team in Warwick University to come up with a way allowing people with hidden disabilities to 'secretly' disclose that because of a disability they posses, they may need additional support, help or time. Or simply that they just want to be treated with more care: many times we have treated with people with hidden disabilities unsympathetically because of impatience and lack of knowledge making their journey harder.
The best initiative to implement this is Hidden Disabilities' sunflower scheme. This scheme provides lanyards, badges and wristbands for those with hidden disabilities notifying staff, colleagues, pupils, etc of their condition without having to have the very much dreaded and gruelling conversation. The scheme is not to highlight people with hidden disabilities or encourage those without to treat people patronisingly but rather to promote an environment of cautiousness, awareness and care. (These lanyards, badges and wristbands will be of free of charge).
(More information on the scheme: https://hiddendisabilitiesstore.com/for-you)
For everyone reading, I IMPLORE you to please help us understand if this initiative will be progressive for our university. Feedback is paramount, and we can't do anything without it.
You can provide feedback by either commenting on this post (which is anonymous), contacting me directly via email or social media and also by filling in this two-question survey created by the Disabled Students' Officer:
Thank you for your time and help, if you have any more questions please do not hesitate to contact me. I hope you week is filled with success, peace and productivity.
