Amy Bryan has been elected the ANU Disabilities Student Association (DSA) officer for 2018. Bryan and Mackinlay Tikoft are acting as co- officers for the rest of 2017 following Aji Sana’s resignation from the role.

Bryan, on reflection of her election, told Woroni that in 2018 the DSA aims ‘to push for a University wide Disability Action Plan to ensure students with disability are not discriminated against during their time at university.’

This entails ‘creating clearer documentation around the EAP process and access requirement negotiations’ as well as ‘develop[ing] orientation videos for students with disabilities.’

The DSA will also focus on community building, with the new Spoons Space, as well as holding creative and inclusive events.

The Spoons Space is the autonomous space on campus for students with disabilities. The redevelopment process moved the Spoons Space from Union Court to the Copland Courtyard where the DSA faced issues of providing access to members.

Bryan ultimately aims to ‘broaden this community to beyond the DSA and provide clubs with the incentive and know-how to ensure their daily operations are both inclusive and accessible.’

‘I want to help add a creative aspect to accessibility using current technology. I want to push that access isn’t really that difficult most of the time it is just being really considerate of other needs and refusing someone access really is discrimination.

‘I want to continue to redefine what disability is and create many positive experiences for students with disability on campus,’ Bryan said.

The DSA is the collective for all ANU students who identify as having a disability. It became an ANUSA Department in 2006.

Aji Sana could not be reached for comment.