On September 27, 2018, at the first meeting of the University of Manchester Student Union, a proposal was moved by Sara Khan, "liberation and access officer," to ban traditional applause at Union functions shown by clapping, which she claimed upset those with anxiety or sensory issues and was not sufficiently "accessible."  The original proposal resolved to "swap audible clapping" for British Sign Language (BSL) approval and urged student groups and societies to do the same.  The proposal was accepted by the union.  BSL clapping will be part of inclusion training for new students. The argument is that people with autism, sensory issues, and deafness had been "discouraged" from attending events because of loud clapping and cheering.  The objective of the union is to make sure that events are more accessible and inclusive for all, that all members of society feel comfortable and able to...(Read Full Post)