University Clubs for Students Requiring Accessibility

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Explore our list of scholarships for students with disabilities

Guest post: Rebecca Jackson

The brand new university year is now beginning, and if you’re starting university for the very first time, it’s completely natural to feel a little nervous – the majority of freshers feel the same way!

During your first week or so, you’ll have the chance to settle in and make new friends, as well as signing up to join student clubs and societies. For students with accessibility requirements, here’s an overview of the kind of societies you could consider, with examples from UK universities.

1. Sports societies

New students with additional accessibility requirements can often worry about not being able to join sports societies and participate in all the activities available. But many sports societies are becoming more accessible, and this trend is expected to increase even more in the future.

The University of Nottingham is one example of a university ensuring that those with accessibility requirements are able to enjoy sports, either as part of a traditional sporting society, or as part of an accessibility-adapted group. The university’s disability sports officer can offer advice and guidance concerning sports societies, and even help you to pursue a career in sports if you wish. You never know, you could be competing in the Paralympics before you know it

2. Entertainment societies

There are plenty of student clubs other than sports on offer at university, so if badminton or football isn’t your thing, you can be sure to find a society to match your interests.

For music fans, there are plenty of societies to join, whether it’s listening to music, going to live events or playing it yourself. The Brass Band Society at Cambridge University, for example, is the perfect place to meet new friends and enjoy your favorite pastime, playing some music with them. The society often hosts performances too, so you can look forward to showing off your talents!

Film societies are often a popular choice amongst students, whether it’s for writing scripts, creating films, or watching and reviewing films. With plenty of accessibility, these societies are a fantastic way to get involved and learn new skills. The University of Southampton has plenty of film societies to join, which are often led by film students.

3. Action groups

Lots of universities have student action groups, striving to support students who require additional accessibility. Members of these groups can enjoy quality time with likeminded people, while contributing to improving accessibility in the university and beyond.

One example is Leeds University Disability Action Group. As part of the society, you can enjoy sharing stories and experiences with fellow members of the group, as well as heading out to panel talks and to the cinema, to name just a few activities. The society hopes to offer a great place for new students to get to grips with university life, while helping to grow the university through improving its accessibility.

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4. Something a little different…

Sometimes we want something a little out of the ordinary to spend time on, and you can expect plenty of unique societies at university, from beekeeping to blind tasting! The majority of these weirdly wonderful societies are accessibility-friendly, so you can get excited about reveling in something new.

Some of my particular favorites are the Hummus Society at LSE, the Harry Potter Society at the University of Warwick, and the Robot Football Society at Plymouth University!

Student clubs can provide you with the perfect space to meet someone new who might be in a similar situation as yourself, and you will be bound to have plenty of fun. Of course, the university clubs listed here are just a drop in the ocean as to what’s available out there, and wherever you are heading to start your studies, there will be a wealth of societies on offer, plenty of which will have accessibility to cater for your need.

Be sure to check out the student clubs on offer at your university online, or at your Freshers’ Fair. There’s always the option to start your very own university club too!

Rebecca Jackson is the marketing and PR coordinator for Ability Superstore, specializing in mobility aids and independent living products. Visit www.abilitysuperstore.com to browse the full range of products.

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