NADSN 10th Anniversary Conference & Celebration
Friday 6th December 2024 | University of Greenwich
In person & Online (via Microsoft Teams)
#NADSN2024
The National Association of Disabled Staff Networks (NADSN) and STAART are proud to present this one-day national conference, hosted by Dr Melanie Thorley and the STAART Ambassadors & Graduates at the University of Greenwich.
This will be a celebration of NADSN’s 10th Anniversary and our first conference since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Conference will be held hybrid, in-person and online.
The Conference is free to attend and open to all members and allies of NADSN and the University of Greenwich’s STAART and Disabled Staff Community.
Please read our NADSN Conference follow-up!
- Date: Friday 6th December 2024.
- Timing (Greenwich Mean Time):
- Arrival from 09:30.
- Main Conference 10:00 – 16:15.
- Reception until 18:00.
- In-person venue: Queen Anne Building, Greenwich Campus, University of Greenwich, Old Royal Naval College, Park Row, London, SE10 9LS, UK.
- Online: Microsoft Teams.
- Social media: follow us via linktr.ee/NADSN
- Join the conversation using #NADSN2024
- Programme: please scroll down this page.
I am really pleased that we are hosting the NASDN conference at the University of Greenwich and that STAART are organising this. It is important that we recognise as a university community the importance of conferences such as this one that enable disabled staff to meet, celebrate and provide support and recognition to each other but also collectively challenge the sector to improve further and to highlight where we need to change. I am proud of the work that Melanie does to achieve this at Greenwich.
I am delighted that the University of Greenwich is hosting the NASDN conference. I had heard about both NASDN and STAART before joining the University and as such, it is a great privilege to be part of this year’s event. I am proud of the University’s commitment to Education Without Boundaries and the work done by STAART and the Staff Disability Community to make Greenwich a great place to study and work.
I am both honoured and delighted for STAART to be hosting this very important conference and celebration event. As an executive officer for NADSN and the University of Greenwich Disabled Staff Community (DSC), I am aware of the importance and the benefits of staff networks. NASDN and STAART provide a physically and psychological safe space where disabled staff can be their authentic selves without judgement nor prejudice.
Programme, and Presentations
Here you will find all of the presentations, bios and synopses from the conference:
Hello, Housekeeping and Wellbeing – Dr Melanie Thorley, STAART Manager, University of Greenwich.
NADSN Conference 2024 Welcome and Opening – Dr Hamied Haroon, Chair of NADSN; Alan Dudley, Chair of the Disabled Staff Community, University of Greenwich.
Is there Equity in EDI in HE and the Public Sector? – Banji Adewumi MBE, Director of EDI, University of Greenwich.
The RIDE Higher Framework – Dr Melanie Best, Chair of RIDE HIGHER.
Mel will give an overview of the developing “Realising Inclusion of Disabled Employees in Higher Education” (RIDE HIGHER) Framework and lead some discussion.
NADSN Sub-Groups Showcase:
- Andrew Crosbie, Chair of the Neurodivergence Focus Group – Andrew Crosbie NADSN slides
- Prof Yota Dimitriadi & Dr Jennifer Leigh, Co-Leads of the STEMM Action Group – Jen Leigh Yota Dimitriadi NADSN STEMM Action Group
- Dr Stuart Gore & Dr Sam Hitchmough, Co-Chairs of the Blind & Visually Impaired Staff & PGRs in Academia Network – Stuart Gore NADSN Slide
- Dr Meredith Wilkinson, Chair of the Disabled Women in Academia Network – Meredith Wilkinson slide for nadsn conference
- NADSN Subgroups synopses
Disability Matters and Wellcome Anti-Ableist Research Culture projects – Prof Dan Goodley, iHuman, University of Sheffield.
Ableism across Time-zones: NADSN going Global! – Prof Nancy Hansen, University of Manitoba, Canada; Dr France Rose Hartline, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Norway; Prof Gayle Brewer, University of Liverpool, UK.
- Gayle Brewer synopsis
- Ableism Across Timezones
- France Rose Hartline synopsis
- France’s video recording
- Nancy Hansen synopsis
- Horses, wheelchairs and place on dehumanising disabled people
Documentary Screening – Dr Jennifer Leigh, University of Kent.
Greenwich Leading from the Helm – Prof Jane Harrington, CEO & Vice Chancellor, University of Greenwich.
Celebrating NADSN – Dr Hamied Haroon, Jacquie Nicholson & Stuart Moore, Chair & Vice Chairs of NADSN
Photographs from NADSN Conference 2024
The STAART team at Greenwich
Banji Adewumi MBE, and Prof. Jackie Carter
Dr Melanie Thorley, and Prof. Jackie Carter
Dr Hamied Haroon, and Stuart Moore
Prof Jane Harrington
NADSN 10th Birthday Cake
NADSN Conference 2024
University of Greenwich
Additional Information about the NADSN Conference 2024
The Conference will be held in Queen Anne Building on the Greenwich Campus.
All Conference sessions will be held in Room QA063.
Room QA077 (Heritage Gallery) will be available as a quiet room throughout the Conference.
University of Greenwich STAART Ambassadors and Graduates will be available to assist attendees.
Refreshments and lunch will be provided.
There is no parking on-site except for Blue Badge holders. Please contact Melanie Thorley if you wish to book a Blue Badge space (please see the Contact tab).
Please use websites like trivago or Wheel the World to book hotel accommodation if you’re staying overnight for the Conference.
Online attendance at the Conference will be via Microsoft Teams.
The Microsoft Teams link will be sent out to those who have registered for online attendance.
We will be using automated captioning via Microsoft Teams.
We will be sharing the presentations and any additional information on 1st December 2024.
All of the presenters will be invited to provide a synopsis of their sessions to be included in Chapter 2 of the University of Greenwich Histories of Disability Anthology. Chapter 1 of the anthology can be found here:
Histories of Disability: The Good and the Great, the Bad and the Ugly.doc (Microsoft Word)
We will have media consent forms for those who would like to be in the Conference photos and videos, which will be shared via NADSN, STAART and the University of Greenwich.
If you have any specific queries or requirements related to the Conference please email Melanie Thorley. Please put “NADSN Conference” in the subject line and add the high importance red flag. 