AUSA Election Candidate Interviews: Disability Rights Officer

Craccum interviews Mohammed Amer on his campaign for Disability Rights Officer

Note: All candidates running for this role were contacted for an interview. Zainab Iqbal did not respond.

Question 1. How would you describe yourself in 5 words?

Empathetic, analytical, approachable, persistent, inclusive.

Question 2. Which of your ideas/initiatives are you most excited to implement next year?

I am most excited about establishing a dedicated Disability Support Taskforce to establish a direct line between students and university leadership. As an international student, listening to peers has made me deeply aware of the distinct, often invisible obstacles disabled students face daily—from navigating complex academic policies to physically moving around campus. My main priority is streamlining academic accommodations, such as lecture recordings, flexible deadline policies, and accessible coursework materials, so students spend less time cutting through administrative red tape and more time focusing on their growth. I also plan to conduct student-led physical campus audits to ensure facilities, ramps, and study spaces are genuinely accessible for everyone.

Question 3. Would you say that UoA does a good job of supporting disabled students on campus?

The University has solid foundational services in place, but there is clear room for structural improvement. While individual staff members and disability advisors work hard, the current framework often feels fragmented and bureaucratic. Students frequently experience delays in securing essential adjustments, navigating physical accessibility barriers, or dealing with inconsistent support across different faculties. Real support should not just exist on paper—it must be proactive, seamless, and shaped directly by the lived experiences of disabled students.

Question 4. What do you think are some of the biggest challenges that disabled students face at UoA, and how would you address these?

The biggest challenges stem from administrative friction, inconsistent accommodation enforcement across faculties, and physical navigation barriers. Too often, disabled students carry the exhausting secondary burden of having to repeatedly self-advocate just to receive basic educational access. To address these challenges, I will focus on:

• Faculty-Wide Accommodation Standards: Advocating for centralized systems where approved accommodation plans are automatically honored by academic staff without requiring students to re-explain their circumstances to every lecturer.

• Proactive Infrastructure Audits: Collaborating with campus planning teams to fix mobility obstacles, repair broken lifts promptly, and ensure quiet, accessible study spaces are available.

• Inclusive Peer Connection: Building supportive networks where disabled students—including international students navigating new systems—can connect, share resources, and find strong peer advocacy.

Question 5. Why should students care about AUSA elections?

AUSA serves as the primary collective voice for students on campus. The elected executive shapes campus culture, allocates essential student resources, and directly holds university leadership accountable on key issues like fee structures, accessibility, and student welfare. Voting ensures that student leadership genuinely reflects the diversity and real needs of our university community.

Question 6. If you win this election, you will be a part of the team that decides Craccum's budget for next year. Would you increase Craccum's funding in 2027 to at least $120k? (Yes/No). If you were in the executive this year, why was the budget decreased to the lowest it's ever been in recent years?

Yes. Independent student media like Craccum plays an essential role in keeping campus leadership accountable, amplifying student perspectives, and fostering an informed student body. Regarding past financial decisions, as I was not part of this year's executive team, I cannot speak to the internal rationale behind previous budget reductions. However, if elected, I am committed to supporting transparent, sustainable funding models that protect essential student media and advocating for a budget that ensures Craccum remains strong and fully operational in 2027.

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