Support for disabled students

The Disability in Higher Education Advisory Panel is a committee of the OfS Board and is chaired by John Blake, Director for Fair Access and Participation. Suzanne Carrie, Head of Student Equality and Welfare at the OfS, is deputy chair.  

The panel will provide expert advice on enhancing disabled students’ experiences in higher education by considering and reviewing how universities and colleges currently support disabled students, as well as, drawing on evidence, research and analysis from the sector to make recommendations on how to support their educational experience. 

In addition to the chair and deputy chair the panel will consist of: 

• Independent members who bring extensive experience of being a senior leader at a higher education provider or in a leadership position in disability policy in public, private or third sector organisations. 
• Student members representing current and future disabled students’ perspectives in higher education in the work of the committee.  

The panel will meet up to four times a year. The panel will run until June 2025.

Meet the panel 

Deborah Johnston

I am Deputy Vice Chancellor at London South Bank University, and previously was at SOAS, University of London.  I chair the Disabled Student Commitment Advisory Group, am on the board of STAMMA and a member of TASO Disability and Mental Health Working Group. I am a professor of development economics. 

Gurur Deniz Uyanik

I am a Parliamentary Assistant in the House of Commons. During my degree, I represented disabled students as a Disabled Students’ Officer, an accessibility rep, an NUS Liberation Conference delegate, a trained disabled student consultant, and a campaigner for Access Sussex.

Helen Childs

I am the Head of Disability, SpLD and Neurodiversity at the University of Kent, overseeing and managing the service provided to approximately 3000 disabled students. I have previously worked as a Disability Advisor at De Montfort University, as well as advising higher education students studying within an further education context.  

John Harding

I have been the Head of the Accessibility & Disability Resource Centre at the University of Cambridge since 2008. I am also the Company Secretary of the National Association of Disability Practitioners (NADP). I am a qualified teacher and SpLD diagnostic assessor and nearing completion of my doctorate in inclusive education.  

Josh Bradbury

I am the outgoing Co-President at the University of British Columbia Disabilities United Collective (representing Disabled students on the 60,000 person Vancouver campus), and incoming Campaigns and Events Officer for Autism at Warwick. I was previously Secretary for Warwick Enable and a Student Inclusion Officer for the University of Warwick. 

Lucy Merritt

As Education Policy Manager at Thomas Pocklington Trust (TPT), I work to improve educational experiences for blind and partially sighted individuals. My work focuses on improving access to education, amplifying the voices of blind and partially sighted people. I have extensive experience of working in quality assurance roles in higher education. 

Patrick Johnson

I am Pro Vice-Chancellor Diversity, Inclusion and Students at the University of Law.  

I am a member of the University’s Executive Board and have strategic responsibility for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion; Student Support Services; Widening Participation and the Students’ Union. 

I have worked in higher education for over 20 years. 

Steph Hayle

I am currently a part-time MSc student at the University of Edinburgh. Alongside my studies I work as a Non-Executive Director for ILF Scotland, a Trustee for the Migraine Trust, and an Accessibility Consultant, as well as sitting on the Investigating Committee for the regulatory body, the Nursing and Midwifery Council. I was previously the Community and Wellbeing Officer at the University of York Students' Union and was on the Student Advisory Committee for Student Minds.