PhD Accessibility Report, June 2016

The following report is based on an internet pilot study conducted in December 2015, and the presentations and workshops from a PhD Student led symposium staged in June 2016, and the feedback on the survey from these contributors. All contributors are credited. I particularly wish to thank David Jay of the Learning Support Unit for organising the symposium. Symposium participants. Alison Baker, UEL Valerie Deacon, Winchester Charlie Nevison, Anglia Ruskin Hannah Belcher, Anglia Ruskin Mahmud Hasan, Anglia Ruskin Larry Arnold , Birmingham Pauldy Otermans, Brunel Ross Kemble, Anglia Ruskim Laurine Groux-Moreau, Bristol Marianthi Kourti, Birmingham The pilot study came out of my own experience as a PhD supervisor and as a PhD mentor at national and international conferences. It also emerged as I came to process my own experiences as a PhD student with a chronic but then undiagnosed health issue, and as a lecturer with a physical disability that affects my participation in the classroom. Note: Chronic illness is a term that covers long term illness of any level of severity. It’s primary characteristic is that it is probably not going away.