Newsletter – Winter 2022/23
Hello and welcome to the Winter edition of the Disabled Students Group (D S G) newsletter.
In this edition, we're going to be sharing our members’ New Year’s Resolutions and signposting to mental health support services. This time of year can often be difficult for many different reasons and we want our members to know that we are here for you, regardless of what you may be struggling with.
We are also very pleased to announce that following our co-option process in January, during which we received an unexpectedly high number of applications, we have now selected 4 new members who will be inducted onto the committee shortly. Keep an eye out for their introductions on our website and The Hoot which will be coming very soon!
Our New Year’s Resolutions for 2023
Laura Cranstoun, Secretary
Happy New Year everyone
My top 5 Goals for 2023 are:
- Continue creating boundaries to keep me safe and healthy.
- Be present and supportive with my nearest and dearest.
- Take time for self-care every day (no matter how big or small).
- Be adventurous and travel more.
- Approach life like I do with running - keep putting one foot in front of the other - I can do this!
Becca Phoenix, Acting Chair
“To focus on myself and only do things which bring me joy and/or peace”
Stephanie Stubbins, Committee Member
“‘Be kind to myself’, ‘Make the most of every moment’ and ‘Listen to and trust My instincts!”
Natalie Baker, VP ED
“Start listening to my body and try not to feel bad about resting & to spend as much time as possible in my Percy Pig snuggy”
Christina Daw, Member
“Absolutely none because then I won’t beat myself up for breaking them!”
Creative Corner
One of our DSG members, who wishes to remain anonymous, has sent in a podcast project they worked on during lockdown in 2020, before the beginning their OU journey in 2021.
**(Listener discretion is advised due to its potentially offensive nature) **
Roaches Coaches
Roaches Coaches is a comedy sitcom, with some mini episodes thrown in for fun! Set in a local bus depot which is struggling financially, owner Keith Roache is going through a messy divorce and his life is equally messy. His employees are a bunch of wasters who don’t make his professional life easy. A bungled attempt at arranging finance by his hopeless PA ends up with Keith being in hock to a ‘psychopathic loan shark’. Alongside attempts to prevent the depot closing, principal characters are dealing with their own personal issues: trying to get a lumber, trying to lose weight, trying to kick off a Hollywood career, and trying to come to terms with moving from a remote Scottish island to the mainland.
Listen to the podcast
Episode One and our two short specials are available now on Spotify, Anchor and a number of other podcast platforms, and you can find out all about Keith and his team on the dedicated Roaches pages of our website at:
Bonus Creative Corner:
January By Mr K
T’was the month after Christmas and all through the land,
Parents were scared when bills started to land.
It seemed like a good idea back in October,
To start Christmas shopping when you weren’t fully sober.
Some Prosecco, some crisps and a chance to logon,
And browse all the best sellers on Amazon.
You clicked and you clicked, no doubt breaching your budget,
“It’s gifts for the kids!” You claimed you don’t grudge it.
But “buy with one click” is a game you can’t win,
You don’t even stop while you pop in your pin.
You still click and buy, then you do it again!
And credit cards, Paypal and such-like take the strain.
Then it’s all done - you just played a blinder.
You just need to wait on the lorry from China.
But then there’s the stress - will it get here on time?
Ach sod it: more crisps, one more glass of wine.
And all of a sudden, it’s here then it's done.
The presents are opened: 2 minutes of fun.
Then it’s cooking and serving and washing up dishes,
That definitely wasn’t in your Christmas wishes.
And done. It’s all over. The tree’s coming down.
The bills are being opened. Your face is a frown.
The bank accounts empty, the telly is boring,
It’s cold, dark and icy, or windy and pouring.
They say, “just stay positive: look forward to summer”,
But this is the UK, the weather’s a bummer.
But even if the thought did give you some cheer,
Christmas is back in less than a year.
Signposting Spotlight
Mental Health Support
This time of year isn’t always a time for celebration and positivity for everyone. There is support available to you no matter what you’re struggling with, no matter how big or small.
SHOUT (UK)
Shout offers free and confidential support to any OU student who is feeling overwhelmed or is struggling to cope. Shout’s text message support service is anonymous and available 24/7. Trained volunteers can help with issues including anxiety, abuse, loneliness, self-harm and suicide, they are there for you 24/7 to listen and support you to get to a calmer and safer place.
To start a conversation, text OU to 85258.
Shout is a free, confidential, anonymous service for anyone in the UK (anyone contacting the service outside of the UK will be charged at the relevant text rate). It won’t show up on your phone bill.
How do you engage with the DSG? Let us know.
Featured Forum Post by Laura Cranstoun:
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How do you cope with your mental health when you have to catch up on your studies?
Writing lists helps me organise my thoughts - it gives me a boost when I can tick things off, and I get a sense of achievement, rather than just feeling overwhelmed. I also try to take time to do other things like housework and meditation, which helps me to slow my thoughts down and process information in pieces, rather than in a whole load.
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How do you pick up your motivation to carry on studying when you are already behind?
This is a good question! I have a few sayings which help me in all different areas of life, as well as when I need to catch up with studies:
"One step at a time - even if they're fairy steps"
"Progress is progress, no matter how slow"
"Just keep going!"
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Have you got any useful tips to help catch up when you are weeks behind?
- Get in touch with your tutor first and foremost - they can be really helpful in guiding you in catching up efficiently, directing you to the most important resources/activities.
- Make a list of things you need to do.
- Try not to worry about what other students on your module are doing - concentrate on you, and what you need to do.
- Treat yourself to some self-care to make yourself feel good. Time away from studies helps to process information, even if you don't realise it.
Awareness Days
The Disabled Students Group runs an ongoing campaign to raise awareness of important issues, many of which directly affect our membership.
January
World Braille Day - 4 January
January 4th was World Braille Day, celebrated each year on Louis Braille’s birthday as a reminder of the importance of accessibility for people who are blind or visually impaired. Braille is a tactile presentation of the alphabet and numbers which allows people to take in written information such as menus or instructions on signs. This is crucial to ensuring independence for those who are blind or visually impaired and celebrating this day serves to celebrate accessibility for all disabled people.
Our former Chair, Marilin Salstrom wanted to share her thoughts about what Braille means to her as a visually impaired person:
“Being able to read Braille is as important to me as reading print would be for someone else. It’s my gateway to education, literature and health, to name a few. It’s not just about accessing literature, though that’s important too. Braille on medication boxes, for example, makes my life so much easier. I use Braille to label things in my kitchen, make notes and to do lists, I can also use Braille to decorate birthday or Christmas cards. Without Braille, I would not be a university student, living abroad on my own.”
Thyroid Awareness Month
Glaucoma Awareness Month
Cervical Health Awareness Month
February
LGBT History Month
4 February World Cancer Day
20-26 February Student Volunteer Week
March
Endometriosis Awareness Month
8 February International Women’s Day, World Kidney Day
12-18 March Brain Week
21 February Down’s Syndrome Awareness Day
26 February Purple Day for Epilepsy
DSG drop-in events
Last Friday of the month on MS Teams
5 pm - 6.30 pm
Join is in whichever capacity suits you best - dropping in and out, cameras on or off, using the chat box facility, asking questions, or casually observing!
Coming up drop-in themes:
February - EDI and Accessibility.
With special guests Natalie Baker, VP EDI, and the Student Representation Service.
March -Catch up and Quiz
Join us for an informal chat and a Quiz, organised by our curious Quiz Master!
If you want to ask any questions about the events, would like us to cover any specific points, or have ideas for future drop in themes, please email us at
DSG@open.ac.uk
We are looking forward to seeing you there!
Thank you for reading this edition of the D S G Newsletter. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us on
dsg@open.ac.uk if you have any contributions to Creative Corner or ideas for future newsletters.