Lottie James

Hi! I am Lottie, and I have been an active part of SUSU over the last three years. I strongly believe students’ unions should be about students and improving student life.  

My next project? Being your SUSU Disabilities Officer.  

Please forgive the formatting 

• I will work with the union, timetabling, estates and the student disability and inclusion team to: 

• Create inclusive learning spaces that consider neurodiverse and disabled students. 

• Un-pause their progress on gender-neutral toilets across campuses. 
• Promote support available and create better support opportunities based on what you need. 
• Create better opportunities for sports by lobbying for:  

• Wheelchair-accessible sports teams and supporting students to access community teams. 
• Specific time slots for gym use including the pool. 

• Ensure all study arrangements (special cons, extensions, additional exam requirements, etc.) have regular consultation with neurodiverse and disabled students. 
• Ensure that student support recommendations are not late, and independent learning activities (including group work) are inclusive.  
• Provide spaces for neurodiverse and disabled students, including social spaces, study spaces, and allocated hours before and after events (I am not a morning person). 

• I will work with the library team to ensure all libraries are inclusive and accessible by: 

• Ensuring the induction is available 24/7.  

• Implementing more independent (bookable) study pods. 

• I will call out the university for still deadnaming students two years after I made them make it their policy to stop. 

If it isn’t clear, I mean ALL students – undergraduates, postgraduates, part-time, full-time, the covid cohort, non-exam sitters, online students, not-Highfield students, the student watching anime in the library, the students that want a guillotine in the library (sorry, I had to), and anyone in between.  

Ok, so why me?  

• As a former sabbatical officer and current senator, I know how SUSU works.  

• I have worked with teams (including the student disability and inclusion team) across the university, so I have already built those connections.  
• I have worked with external organisations promoting mental health support, better representation, and access to disabled students, and creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for all neurodiverse and disabled people within a NUS (National Union of Students) committee.  
• I have a very visible presence on campus and online (except I no longer have pink hair, sorry) and students come to me already at least once a week for support.  
• I am a neurodiverse student and I have a disability. I also have a severe mental health condition. 
• I have worked within the NDD society committee, as a course representative for two years, have had successful you make change and all student vote submissions, other society committees, and I have completed several professional qualifications within health and social care and education relating to neurodiverse conditions and disabilities.  

TL;DR: I just want to help you get the best experience at university that you can. Your choice of candidate is up to you, and I’ll still be around to help regardless.