Disability at Massey - DaM Student Representatives

Ever wondered if there's a dedicated disability study space on the Manawatū Campus? There's consultation going for feedback on the rooms of three Disability spaces that are currently either unused or proposed. Read below and check out the post!!

1. The Library's disability study space (Located first floor of the library near the quiet study spaces)
2. The Disability Support Service's study space (Located in between the social sciences and school of psychology buildings on the first floor)
3. Low-Sensory Gym Space (Gym Membership may be required)

Come along on Thursday 13th of August to have a kōrero and workshop around what you might to have to say about some of these spaces look like. Like last session there will be subway available to a have a bite to eat 🫔

It's located at the International Community Center (ICC) in the middle of the Te Atawhai Manawatahi & Fale Pasifika buildings (Map is attached).

If you're unable to attend the 3:00pm session, we have a distance session occurring at 7:00pm on Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88934028452

For those attending via distance: You have an opportunity to win one of 3x $50 Prezzee Cards when filling out the form: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/MdNCXVTJq3

If there is any questions, concerns in accessibility or if you would like an NZSL interpreter to be present, please email: [email protected] ☺️

Want a Manawatū Disability Community Space? Come along to have a kōrero and workshop so we can look towards opening up conversations with Massey. There will be subway available to a have a bite to eat 🫔

It's located at the International Community Center (ICC) in the middle of the Te Atawhai Manawatahi & Fale Pasifika buildings (Map will be attached).

If you're unable to attend the 3:00pm session, we have a distance session occurring at 7:00pm on Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88934028452?pwd=nOW3bQPSgdZBct8ggNgRmtdD8QbIjg.1

For those attending via distance: You have an opportunity to win one of 3x $50 Prezzee Cards when filling out the form: https://bit.ly/MUSpace

If there is any questions, concerns in accessibility or if you would like an NZSL interpreter to be present, please email: [email protected] ☺️

Check out the NDSA's accessible O-Week plans, including a session on tonight with our fantastic Penny from Massey University's disability support services!

We're excited to share our Accessible Re-O Week for the next coming two weeks!!
We have a variety of events hosted at 5:00pm on Zoom so please feel free to attend what is relevant to you 😊 We have included more details for attending below:

Zoom Link for all events: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89150238749?pwd=D9AqmJgnQGXMzKgbv7dasQ3SaHEvck.1

If there's any accommodations you need i.e. NZSL Interpreter if you could to please let us know through either emailing [email protected] or filling out the form as soon as possible, so we can support you in the best capacity that we can. The form will be immediately deleted after Accessible Re-O Week.

Form: https://forms.gle/c2eBMwqwdewewHSN8

Want to know more about the events happening?

UNCRPD Disability Panel: 🇺🇳
About: Want to know about your rights as disabled ākonga? Come learn all about the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Keep an eye out, our panelists are to be declared

Disability Support Services: 👥
About: Want to Apply or don't know much about your Disability Support Services? come along to our Disability Support Services Night and learn more about interacting with your Disability Support Services across the motu. Keep an eye out, our panelists are to be declared

Special Interest Showcase: 🎉
About: Do you have a Special Interest? Come convince us why we should be interested in what you love. This is a safe space to come and speak on your special interest for the night with others across the motu.

NOTE: To make sure that this remains a safe space for all we ask all attendees to please ensure anything they decide to present is exempt of discrimination, hate speech, and harmful/exclusionary content as expected for all our events.

Apply for Limited Full-time:🤔
About: Don't know how to apply for Limited Full-Time? Want to learn while you're studying? Come along to Applying for a Limited Full-time night to learn more!! Keep an eye out, our panelists are to be declared

Kahoot Night:🪩
About: Come along to Kahoot Night about the Disability Space in Aotearoa. Can you answer all the questions? You'll be in to win a $50 Prezzy Card

Have your say on Massey University's draft Strategy!

Massey is currently developing their new Strategy, aimed at setting the direction of the University for the next decade — and they'd like to know your perspectives on the proposed direction.

Some of the proposed actions include
🔵 Re-energising campuses with distinct roles
🔵 A simplified portfolio with clearer programme propositions
🔵 Digital, AI, and data-enabled delivery
🔵 Partnership and investment frameworks
🔵 Brand, recruitment, and market development

Do you agree with the direction being planned by Massey University? What would you like to see changed?

Have your say at: bit.ly/MasseyStrat

You can also watch a video on the Strategy here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbsrDtqELA0

Please note that the draft Strategy is in PDF format and due to its layout, we do not believe it is likely to be screen reader accessible. The survey also refers to images which are not screen reader accessible.

Do you visit any one of the Massey University campuses? Te Tira Ahu Pae, your Massey University students' association, are seeking feedback on their student lounge setups!

Feedback is open until mid-July. Give your feedback here — https://bit.ly/SLoungeFeedback

This is a great way to let the association know what an accessible space means to you. For example, do you find your local student lounge to be wheelchair accessible, or neurodivergent friendly? Is there anything that might make you feel more comfortable using this student-centred space? Let Te Tira Ahu Pae know!

You can find your nearest student lounge at —

🔵 Ōtehā / Albany Campus at Level 2, Student Central

🔵 Manawatū Campus, at Level 1, Student Services Building, the Concourse

🔵 Pukeahu / Wellington Campus, at the Student Services Building, Block 9, Level B

Submissions on the Disability Support Services Bill are closing tomorrow, Friday 12th June at 1pm. Check out the post below from the NDSA for guidance on submitting ⬇

A PhD scholarship opportunity at the Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University! This research explores Digital Intimacy and Inclusion: Sexual Health, Relationships & Online Engagement

This project will explore how LGBTQA+ people with intellectual disability engage with digital platforms for sexual health, relationships, and community connection. The research aims to advance equity, reproductive justice, and inclusion through co-design and arts-based methodologies.

The project will be shaped by the candidate, supervisory team, and project stakeholders, offering flexibility to shape the research in meaningful and innovative ways. If this opportunity sounds like you, or someone you know, please reach out or share this opportunity through your networks.

📅 Applications close 30th June 2026
💵 $35,188 per annum stipend for three years
🎓 Fully funded PhD
🏫 Based at the Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University
✉️ Contact: [email protected]
🔢 Scholarship reference code: PS2025_CS0719664_THRI

More information is available here under the heading "Scholarships closing 30 June" and "Digital Intimacy and Inclusion: Sexual Health, Relationships & Online Engagement" — https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/schools/grs/scholarships/current

Have you ever taken a course at Massey University involving a placement, practicum, internship, laboratory-based learning, or work-integrated learning? 🩺🔬👷‍♀️

Have you ever felt like you weren't too sure what it was you needed to have in order to enrol and succeed — or whether accommodations ('reasonable adjustments') were available to help you thrive?

Massey University is proposing a new Inherent Requirements Policy that helps to outline —
🔵 How and where the University publishes inherent requirements (knowledge, abilities, and standards of conduct you will need to participate in a course).
🔵 When reasonable adjustments are (and aren't) available.
🔵 Which kinds of courses need to provide information about inherent requirements and reasonable adjustments.
🔵 Who makes decisions about inherent requirements and reasonable adjustments.

For this Policy, Massey University is seeking your feedback! You might want to ask yourself —
🔵 Do you think the Policy is in plain language?
🔵 Do you think it helps to make sure students can make informed decisions?
🔵 Do you think reasonable adjustments are well described, and meet the needs of students?
🔵 What would you like to see changed?

Check out the draft Policy here (PDF) — https://bit.ly/inherent-reqs

You can complete a short survey here (Microsoft login required) — https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/6qG3zhRKB0

You can provide open feedback here (Microsoft login required) — https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=4SiHONC7eEOY3PhoLmRDAPWaqB9BPUJHg8EIfSpOi9JUODVINVk1Vzg1U0ZPSkc1VjFOQzlFRU9WTC4u

You can register for the focus group here (set for May 29th at 12:30pm, where you can go in to win one of three $25 vouchers) (Microsoft login required) — https://forms.office.com/r/A5swsCrT0x

Have any questions? Feel free to email [email protected]

In-person exams for College of Sciences and Massey Business School students are set to begin this semester.

While Disability at Massey (a team of four Student Representatives, independent from Massey University) called for this decision to be postponed, for the University to publish publicly transparent information, and for the University to consider impacts on disabled ākonga before making such decisions, in-person exams will be continuing this semester.

To help you understand whether your course has been affected, where you can find your nearest venue, and what you need to consider, Disability at Massey has published a guide for students to make sure that essential information is publicly available and easy to find.

You can find our guide at https://bit.ly/MUexams

If you have any questions about your exams, please contact [email protected] — if you need any additional help relating to disability, or are struggling to access accommodations, you can also email [email protected] to access Massey's disability support services staff.

Have anything you think we should add to this guide? Let us know in the comments below!

Do you self-identify as neurodivergent? Have you completed (in the past 5 years) or are currently doing work-integrated learning (WIL), such as a placement, practicum, internship, or co-op?

If so, you might be interested in filling out this survey!

Survey link — https://massey.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_06VberuQ25N9zme

Associate Professor Kathryn Hay (Massey University, NZ) and Associate Professor Antoine Pennaforte (HEIG-VD, Switzerland) are seeking feedback from neurodivergent learners who have done, or are currently doing, work-integrated learning in Aotearoa New Zealand, Canada, France, and Switzerland.

This survey will help tertiary education providers better understand how they (and WIL host organisations) can more effectively support neurodivergent learners in work-integrated learning.

This survey takes about 15 minutes to complete, is anonymous and not related to your studies, and at the end you can enter a draw to win a $50 voucher!

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Link to read more (PDF) — https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QWCZ2IjEVeQ6oP07WJzz2LYY41Y5eLJe/view?usp=sharing

The survey has ethics approval from Massey University New Zealand ethics committee (OM3 25/64). The survey includes questions related to your WIL experience which may have been negative for you. This may be potentially distressing for some students — you are not obligated to answer every question, and can stop the survey at any time.

Associate Professor Kathyn Hay: [email protected]

Associate Professor Antoine Pennaforte: [email protected]