Accessible Student Unions - Why and how ? Katarina Hylander Project Manager

1. @10tipsboken #10tips Accessible Student Unions - Why and how? Katarina Hylander Project Manager katarina.hylander@sfs.se Jenny Andersson Project Assistant jenny.andersson@sfs.se

2. Year 1 (2011/2012): Situation analysis – ”what’s the problem?” What is 10 tips? Year 2 (2012/2013): Methoddevelopment Successfactors! Whathavewelearned? Tips for accessibility! Year 3 (2013/2014): Spreading the message

3. The SFS “10 tips” initiative aims to guarantee student influence. Knowledge must be improved, norms broken and attitudes challenged. Everyone should be able to be active in the union regardless of their ability. With better knowledge and an increasing number of students with functional impairments, improved student influence can make student unions a force to be reckoned with in creating a university for everyone. The Swedish Inheritance Fund Commission

4. Definitions • Examples of functional impairments include • Dyslexia • Hearing and seeing impairment • Physical impairment • Allergy • Neuropsychiatric functional impairments such as ADHD and Asperger’ssyndrome • Nearly one in five Swedes have some form of functional impairment (estimated 5-8 % dyslexia).

5. Why is accessibility in highereducationimportant? • The group of students with disabilities in Swedish higher education institutions is increasing every year • Democracy and representation • Everyone should be able to influence • their higher education • - Strengthen the voice of the students

6. Year 1: Building a foundation for the project • Research • Create a communication plan • Create a website • Networking with key people • Situationalanalysis

7. Situation analysis: Main findings • A few active people represents all students • Little or no knowledge of accessibility - strong will to learn • Social activities a common ways to get involved in the union • Difficultiesreachingout with the message of what the student unions actuallydo • Meetingscan be excluding in different ways • “1 percent of the students have 99 percent of the assignments” ”To recruitamong your group of friends canunfortunatelylead to likatänkande” ”You looseperspective and the realization that not all are represented”

8. Year 2: Methoddevelopment • Fivefocus student unions • localproject manager • budgets • meetingsthroughout the year • ”homework” • Referee group

10. Communicateclearly • Useclear and accuratelanguage • Put your most important points first • Paragraph your text • For emphasis, use bold font rather than italics • Explain words that are frequently used • Let someone else read your text

11. Make the design work Thinkaboutcolors… …and contrasts! Choose a font that is clear and simple, without flourishes. Avoid fonts that are very thin or resemble handwriting. Avoid positioning text over images

12. Accessiblemeetings • Distribute the meeting’s documents well in advance • Ask about allergies or special needs • Provide information about accessibility • Consider the meeting climate • The importance of breaks

13. Social activities • Hold the activity in a place that everyone can get to • Consider accessible commuication when writing invitations • Keep the venueperfume and smokefree • Vary your activities!

14. Year 3 The book is published (and sold out!)

15. ”The 10 tips tour” A one hour lecturebased on the book Offered to all SFS member unions Reached over 200 people in student unions all over Sweden.

16. The 10 tips-conference

17. Measures to make SFS moreaccessible • Educating the board and staff in accessible meetings and communication • Accessible general assembly-meeting and organizing accessible events for our member unions • Accessible design and layout • In general new perspective

18. Thank you! katarina.hylander@sfs.se jenny.andersson@sfs.se @10tipsboken #10tips