Hi – my name is Clare and if you have not been to a Disabled Students Group (DSG) meeting, then pleased to meet you and why not join us?
It’s been the biggest pleasure and honour of my time with The Open University. I’m also a student rep but being the Chair of the DSG has been a year of fun, some stress, enjoyment and wonder, as I know we are making a difference to so many students. Yes, there are times when we are stuck in a system and cannot change anything, but most of the time, we can do what we can do to allay fears, dispel different misunderstandings or solve stresses, and it’s at that time when I know we have done what we need to do.
Being Chair has meant coordinating support, sorting events, and basically project-managing the DSG. I have worked with the Facebook group, I have helped launch the OUSA Student Connect service to some success, and we have run monthly team meetings, During this time, we also ran a great couple of hours with mentor specialist (and also clever clogs of how to work with the OU) Kerry Pace. We are now planning Christmas and the next couple of months.
I have got some amazing memories and it’s been great, whether it’s been helping someone with an invisible disability, one which is quite open, and all those with a neurodiversity. My favourite time was seeing how engaged everyone was with Kerry, and the attendees asking questions on everything from IT solutions to study skills. Amazing stuff.
It is teamwork, though, and without our wonderful and fantastic Communications Officer and Secretary, we would not have survived. As a team we can manage student needs, requests for information, signposting and being cheerleaders for one another. I have enjoyed making sure there are no stupid questions – where everyone feels welcome, and that their pets are welcome. I have loved the chats on the forums and Connect on study buddy pets, and the discussions on diversions from study. We are a family and it has been my greatest honour to be part of, and to still remain a member of, an amazing team.
Please consider running as Chair, Vice Chair, Comms Officer, Secretary or Events Officer. The DSG needs the whole team to make it wonderful. My only sadness has been the lack of events, but it has just been outside of our hands. As I say, we need the whole team.
So thank you to all of you who have come to the drop-ins, all who will come along in the next few months, and a massive thank you and outpouring of admiration to Felicity and Becky for their hard work and putting up with my own insanity. I am proof that, yes, you can be a postgrad but you can be a undergrad too – you can do it and study. Yes, it is busy – sometimes it’s heartbreaking when you can’t just click your fingers and fix something, but if you are happy diving down rabbit holes to find the solution, then it is a pleasure. You will be supported by the amazing team in the support unit, and there are loads of old hands around to support as well – some who have gone on to some of the biggest roles at the University Students Association, proving how amazing the DSG is. It’s a great role and you can learn a lot while bringing in a smile.
You, DSG, are an amazing support network for each other – don’t change.
If you have any questions, please get in touch.
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