Briefly, could you introduce yourself and what you do at King’s?
My name is Olivia Walshe, but most people know me as Liv. I’m the student lead for the Nightingale Disability and Health Inclusion Network and am also a second-year adult nursing student.
For anyone who might not be aware of it, could you explain what the Disability and Health Inclusion Network is and what it does?
The Disability and Health Inclusion Network offers an opportunity for students and staff within the faculty to share their experiences and knowledge of being, supporting or becoming a healthcare professional with a disability, learning difficulties, neurodivergence, or long-term health conditions, including mental health conditions. By sharing our experiences, we can collectively promote a positive and inclusive approach to disability.
Some of the things the network offers includes:
- Monthly discussion drop-in to share experience with peers
- Special events with guest speakers
- Teams forum sharing events and information
- Resource pack for disabled students
- Opportunities to feedback to the faculty to improve disability inclusion
What’s your role in the Network?
My role as student lead is to plan various events, organise drop-in sessions for students and liaise with the faculty (and the other networks or societies). I am also a point of contact for students when needed.
What recent work has the Network been involved in?
Recently, the network collaborated with the Nightingale Network for Black and Ethnically Diverse Students (NNBEDS) and the Nightingale Society for a Meet and Greet event where we had different games (plus snacks) for students. It was a successful event as we had over 40 students turn up and received positive feedback from attendees.
Additionally, we liaised with the faculty and estates regarding a broken lift in FWB which was limiting access. We were able to come to a solution and a ramp is now being built which will improve access in the building for both nursing/midwifery students and staff as well as people from other faculties who use the building.
What are some of the Network's aims and plans for the upcoming academic year?
We aim to create safe space for students whilst also promoting inclusion and diversity within the faculty and nursing in general. We also want to advocate for students facing difficulties when necessary.
We plan to have regular events throughout the year, often collaborating with NNBEDS and the Nightingale Society. We hope to have some guest speakers as well as regular drop-in sessions for students. We will also be creating various resource packs to support students further, for example regarding access to testing for conditions such as dyslexia. We also want to hear from students what they would like from the network!
If anyone wants to join the network or find out more, you can do this by emailing me olivia.walshe@kcl.ac.uk
Also, if anyone has any questions, has any concerns or anything else they can email me or alternatively contact me on our Instagram.