Session 26: Community and collaboration: co-creating resources to promote opportunities for disabled and neurodivergent students

Abstract

For many years, studies of the destinations of UK graduates illustrate the disadvantage experienced by disabled and neurodivergent graduates when it comes to employment (AGCAS 2024, 2022, 2021). Employment is recognised as a way in which people find purpose, self-confidence and economic wellbeing (Pratt et al. 2014); indeed, employment is a human right (Nolan & Gleeson 2017). For several years, colleagues in Student Futures have collaborated with disabled and neurodivergent students - those we see as experts by experience - to develop resources to support the success of LJMU students in the workplace. In this fourth year of collaboration, we have been particularly concerned with ensuring that our message reaches current disabled and neurodivergent students, so that they are aware of the resources and provision available to aid their success.

In this session, three students and two careers practitioners from Student Futures will describe the latest iteration of the co-creation internship project. A range of videos, social media posts and other resources were created, which will be shown during the session. In addition, the learning gained from this collaboration will be shared. For the interns, this has included the enjoyment of being able to choose the ways to promote initiatives to fellow students which they deem to be most effective. For the careers practitioners, working with the interns has led to a deeper understanding of the concerns and perspectives of these students, with implications for future practice. This session will describe the achievements of the project, outline recommendations for other staff and highlight the benefits of a deepened understanding and a sense of empowerment for all involved.

Community and collaboration: co-creating resources to promote opportunities for disabled and neurodivergent students PowerPoint.  Only LJMU staff and students have access to this resource.