University turns purple for disability equality

30 Nov 2018

To mark the day the University is encouraging staff and students to wear purple

Monday, 3 December 2018 is International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD). This is a globally recognised day that brings together a united voice to celebrate and empower people with disabilities.

To mark the day the University is encouraging staff and students to wear purple. It is also lighting up lecture theatres in purple and raising awareness of disability equality across campus.

The colour purple is recognised as the symbol for people with disabilities, with the spending power of disabled people often referred to as the ‘purple pound’. Purple is a vibrant colour that communicates the importance of disability equality. 

To mark IDPD, the University’s Disabled Staff Network (DSN) is launching its new logo which incorporates a purple worker bee inside a pentagon hive. Bees commonly work in hexagon shaped hives and the pentagon hive represents a reasonable adjustment to the workplace enabling the disabled bee to work, contribute and thrive. Furthermore, the pentagon is taken from the branding of the National Association of Disabled Staff Networks and signifies the DSNs wider connections. 

Kirsty Hutchinson and Sara Fernandez, DSN Co-Chairs said: “By launching our new logo we aim to raise awareness of the positive impact disabled staff make at the University on this important day. We want as many staff and students as possible to support the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, so please get involved and wear purple!”