Code of Conduct

Author/Date: Annie Beckett, April Yeatman, and Sarah Todd/ May 2025
Current Version/Date: v.1.2/October 2025
Review Schedule: 3 Years
Next Review: May 2028
Responsibility: Office Team
Approval: Executive

1. Introduction

The National Association of Disability and Inclusion Practitioners (NADP) is a membership organisation for those working in the tertiary education sector and who are involved in the management or delivery of services for disabled students and staff. Our mission is to promote excellence in quality, sustainability and inclusivity of post-16 provision for disabled students and staff in higher and further education.

1.1 Purpose

NADP is a diverse and vibrant membership organisation with a strong community of practice and tradition of peer-to-peer support. We are committed to maintaining spaces where disability practitioners can supportively and respectfully engage with one another. There are multiple online and in-person venues where members, staff, advisors, directors, and NADP event attendees may interact, sometimes around sensitive and complex issues. This policy aims to ensure everyone will feel able to participate in our community of practice, knowing that both their identity and ideas will be respected and treated with dignity by others.   

1.2 Scope

This conduct policy applies to all members (whether accredited, senior accredited, or not), staff, directors, and advisors of NADP, and any non-members who attend NADP events such as webinars or conferences, participate in activities such as training and accreditation, or utilise services such as JISCmail. It also applies to any contractors, volunteers, or others representing NADP.

2. Code of Conduct

All NADP members, staff, directors, advisors, contractors, volunteers, and non-member event attendees must:

  1. Respect the views, opinions, knowledge, experience and expertise of others at events, in discussions, and in any online channels (such as the JISCmail).
  2. Be honest, polite, and supportive of others, respecting the diversity of identity, thought, and needs represented within the NADP community.
  3. Allow others the right to self-identification, including different ways people identify regarding their disability, gender, ethnicity, religion, or other characteristics.
  4. Uphold NADP as a space for constructive and supportive conversation to share best practice and learn together, not “naming and shaming” individual practitioners or organisations. Individuals should be polite and courteous at all times.
  5. Ensure that their actions do not bring either themselves, their institution, the disability practitioner profession, NADP, or the students and staff we support into disrepute.
  6. Not discriminate against, bully, or harass others because of age, disability, education, ethnicity, gender, language, national origin, political beliefs, race, religion, sexual orientation, marital or family status, socio-economic status, or other aspects of identity.
  7. Not share identifiable information relating to individual students (or other service users) with the group unless you have specific permission from the individual.  Be sensitive to issues of confidentiality and privacy, especially those specific to the nature of the disability practitioner role, with due account taken of the relevant legislative framework (for example, GDPR and the UK Data Protection Act).
  8. Not represent, or claim to represent, NADP or the views of its membership unless specifically authorised to do so by the NADP Board.
  9. Not use NADP webinars, events, forums, communications or other NADP activities/interactions to promote their own events, products or services (whether paid-for or free) unless acting as an approved event sponsor or having received prior approval by NADP.
  10. Not knowingly act in a manner inconsistent with this code or knowingly cause or permit others to do so.

2.1 Specific Considerations for the Use of JISCmail

The JISCmail discussion groups can provide a much-needed form of support. Although a relatively informal medium, users should be aware that their emails reflect on their own and their organisation’s image and reputation.  For the benefit of all users, the following rules apply:

  1. This email list is ‘closed and private’ for members and associates of NADP only, and emails should not be forwarded to anyone unless explicit permission is given by the original sender (and all those in the chain) or NADP. This includes forwarding information across different NADP subgroups or internally to staff who are not listed on NADP subgroups.
  2. Only use JISCmail for its intended purpose. Do not use emojis or “react” to messages unless as part of a more detailed reply, as this causes additional email traffic for list users. Do not forward chain mails or ‘humorous’ messages, or send inappropriate content or materials, including text, images or other media that could reasonably offend.
  3. Always use a meaningful subject line – this allows busy practitioners to select emails of importance to them. Users should not change the subject line if they reply to a message but change the topic of the email.
  4. Be mindful of the inclusivity of content. Ensure your messages are short, appropriate and accessible; avoid using all capital letters.
  5. Respect the privacy of other users. Do not reply to a personal email address without a specific invitation to do so.
  6. Members from commercial companies and suppliers are welcome to reply to requests for information but should first declare any commercial interest and then only offer technical advice.
  7. NADP members may use JISCmail to promote relevant articles, research opportunities or funding, or free conferences, software, services, products, etc. that they consider may be of interest to other members. They may post one email of notification of these services and events but must also declare any commercial interest (as per ‘f’, above).  Queries about email marketing or the promotion of paid-for events, services, products, etc. should be directed to the NADP office for approval.
  8. NADP respects and operates within UK copyright laws. Users may not use JISCmail to share any copyrighted software, media or materials owned by third parties unless they have been given explicit permission by that third party.
  9. Users should also familiarise themselves with JISCmail’s own policy, found at https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/policyandsecurity/index.html, in particular in relation to Content of Messages and Mailing List Etiquette.

All emails sent through the JISCmail system are recorded by JISCmail and available to search engines on the JISCmail site.

3. Breaches of the Code of Conduct

Failure to adhere to this code of conduct can lead to disciplinary action. Disciplinary actions for members may include temporary or permanent removal of membership status and/or restriction or removal of membership benefits such as JISCmail access, attendance at NADP webinars, training, events and activities, and/or accreditation status.

Complaints pertaining to a breach of this code of conduct may be made by anyone, whether they are an NADP member or not. Please refer to the NADP Complaints Policy for further details.