Jess Watson

Jess is an Architecture student, Chair of UoM Disabled Students and UoM Feminist Collective, and MMU Rep for the Disabled Students NFP; an organisation run by and for Disabled, Neurodivergent, Mentally Ill & D/deaf students and graduates in Greater Manchester, offering socials, 121 advocacy work and campaigns. Whilst at university they have been active in campaigns and ran workshops on improving the accessibility of university campuses and education buildings, campaigning to improve and bringing awareness to the issues and barriers faced by disabled students in higher education. In their course they are part of a feminist design studio and have a particular focus on accessible architecture that is adaptable and involves the people that will use it. This is something they run talks on and write about regularly. Jess also facilitates a paraclimbing social for UKPC to provide a space for disabled people, particularly students, to get into para sports. As part of this they also helped teach adaptable climbing techniques with the mountaineering society as well as helping the society with improving their accessibility.