Let’s Talk Disability: Culture, Kindness, and Belonging at Manchester
Download MP3Join Professor Jackie Carter, Academic Lead for Disability Inclusion at the University of Manchester, as she hosts an inspiring conversation with Heather Cockayne (Senior Lecturer and incoming Co-Chair of the Disabled Staff Network) and Fiona Devine (Vice President and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities).
In this episode, we dive deep into what it means to create a truly disability-inclusive university. Heather shares her lived experience of navigating academia with a hidden disability, while Fiona reflects on the cultural shifts needed to foster genuine belonging and kindness across a large institution.
Key topics include:
- The power of visible and invisible disability advocacy
- The importance of inclusive design and accessible technology
- Breaking down barriers for disabled staff and students
- The value of kindness, culture change, and sharing good practice
- Real-life actions and commitments from university leaders
Whether you’re a student, staff member, or ally, this episode will challenge assumptions, spark new ideas, and inspire you to help build a more inclusive community. Listen in for honest stories, practical advice, and a reminder that small changes can make a big difference.
Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations that move from dialogue to action!
Creators and Guests
Host
Professor Jackie Carter
Academic EDI Lead for Disability, member of the Shaw Trust Power 100 for 2023. Author of Work Placements, Internships & Applied Social Research. Prof of Statistical Literacy. FaCSS, NTF. 1-in-20 Women in Data. Late Bloomer. @GM4Women
Guest
Dr Heather Cockayne
I am a Senior Lecturer in International Education at the Manchester Institute of Education and my work draws on a range of social science theories to study, for example, the formation of student experience and the (re)conceptualisation of space/place in an increasingly digital environment. I am particularly interested in the experiences of international students and how internationalisation shapes pedagogy and curricula.
Guest
Professor Fiona Devine
Fiona Devine is Vice-President and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Professor of Sociology at The University of Manchester. She was previously Head of Sociology (2004-7), Head of the School of Social Sciences (2009-13) and Head of Alliance Manchester Business School (2013-23) at the University which she first joined in 1994. Prior to Manchester she worked at the University of Liverpool, the Policy Studies Institute, and the former Department of Employment in London. She studied Sociology and Government as an undergraduate at the University of Essex where she also completed an MA and PhD.
