Mind your MIND and be Kind!

Who am I?

I am Alina, a BSc Psychology student in my third year, and I stand for the Disabled Students’ Officer role, a volunteering, part-time position in the Student Union. 

My standing for this role is heartfelt and personal because I am a student living with a disability. I have two long-term conditions, Fibromyalgia and Hypermobility, both invisible to the eye. I am optimistic, and I speak humour as my second language despite this.

I look forward to sharing our stories and creating a new sense of shared meaning, friendship, and community!

Why vote for me?

My heart goes out to all students with disabilities, visible and invisible alike. I know the loneliness, the self-doubt, the frustration and feeling misunderstood. As a result, I am motivated to fight the stigma around disability and help rewrite the story of living with disability.

I have been a Student Rep for my Psychology course for two years now. I have listened to my peers, advocated for them, and lived to see improvements in multiple areas of the student experience. The experience and skills I gained in this role equipped me to stand up and advocate for students with disabilities.

What can I do for you?

When elected, I want to make sure adequate support is put in place for students with disabilities, just like accessibility on campus, inclusivity, and well-being:

• I will Listen and Advocate for all the students with disabilities.
• I will liaise with LMU to promote all the resources and support available to students with disabilities.
• I will create a Disability Awareness Campaign on the different types of disabilities because increased awareness brings about more kindness.
• I will create a Mental Health Support Group for students to keep in touch online and meet for tea once a month. The group will focus on aiding students’ mental health.
• Together, we will create a Disability-Empowering Community with special events, guest speakers and resources to help us achieve our best while studying!

To find out more about me, come and meet me on Instagram: @able2smile

Being able to smile despite living with a disability has been an

enduring reality in my life; this inspires me to remind you that

smiling is your Superpower too!