Often LGBT clubs and societies state that they have no disabled students attending, so do not need to ensure their group is accessible. Yet they do not realise that the advertising, promotion and location prevents disabled students from joining in the first place. Advertising in a variety of places, with a minimum of 14 point writing on posters and backgrounds which are easy to read over, is essential. Advertising online or using email is often more accessible to many disabled students.

The environment of the society can appear unwelcoming to many disabled students due to the inappropriate language used by some members or a culture in which people who have no obvious disabilities don’t discuss issues affecting LGBT disabled students. Usually this is entirely unintentional. An inclusive environment that feels welcoming and is sensitive in its advertising and publicity will not only encourage more disabled students to come along, but will increase membership in general.

The isolation experienced by LGBT disabled students does not exist merely within LGBT societies. Very few universities provide disability sports, and even those disabled students who wish to take part in the sports available can feel intimidated by disablism and homophobia. The importance of ‘kick racism, disablism and homophobia out of sports’ campaigns cannot be underestimated for LGBT disabled students, for whom the combination of disablism and homophobia, or the fear of it, can stop them joining sports clubs.

This non-inclusive environment extends far beyond meetings of clubs and societies and is noticeable in social events. Most groups don’t think about whether there are stairs to a pub or club, if a restaurant has Braille or alternative format menus or whether the music would be too loud for a student with a hearing impairment. It is very difficult to ensure fully accessible social events, but using a student union bar can be a way around this, as can checking the access needs of your particular group to ensure regular members can attend.

Accessibility checklist:

• Ensure that the meeting space is either on the ground floor or has lift access and an accessible toilet nearby
• Make posters and handouts in an accessible font. Arial or helvetica size 14 is a good option as a minimum size, and on pastel coloured paper when possible
• Try to have a hearing loop, a device that transmits sounds to people with hearing impairments and cuts out background noise
• Make sure the room layout is easy for people to see one another and has space for people with mobility impairment. Try to keep the same layout each week
• Offer handouts on different coloured papers and in large print alternatives
• Make sure meeting rooms are easy to find
• Ensure doors on the way into the room are not too heavy and are wide enough for wheelchair users
• Put advertising and publicity on a website and use email as well as posters
• Ensure that your events and meetings are not advertised using stereotypical images and/or slogans, which may discourage disabled students from coming along
• Set up a peer support service with volunteers with listening training, and ensure you have signposting services for LGBT disabled students
• Train your students' union officers in disability equality and awareness and run disabled student workshops, talks or events in LGBT groups
• Make sure that the issues of LGBT disabled students are included and represented in your campaigns, or have an disabled students’ representative on your LGBT committee if your group is large enough

Useful links

Regard  
Disabled LGBT
 
Skill 
National bureau for students with disabilities

MIND 

National organisation for mental health